On 25 March 1997 The Boeing Company received an $8 million contract from the US Navy for the Low Cost Missile System (LCMS) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program, called Fasthawk. The 36-month program demonstrated technologies applicable to a next-generation, ship-launched, land attack missile system. The LCMS ATD program is conducted jointly with the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA.

The LCMS concept comprises a fin-less, bending body airframe, fixed geometry annular inlet, and a slip-out booster/ramjet engine. It demonstrates through a series of ground and flight tests the technologies required to deliver a 700-pound payload to a range exceeding 700 nautical miles at a speed of Mach 4.0.

The Office of Naval Research sponsors the Hypersonics Weapons Technology (HWT) and the Low-Cost Missile (LCM) programs. The HWT Program is investigating technologies necessary for effective weapon-system operation in the hypersonic realm. The LCM Program - commonly known as Fast Hawk - is developing an entry-level capability for a Mach 4 hypersonic weapon. Both of these ONR programs will feed into the Hypersonic Strike (HyStrike) Program sponsored by the chief of naval operations (N88; N87; and N86).

The Low-Cost Missile System (LCMS) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) demonstrated technology for a free-flight test of a bending annular missile body (BAMB) ramjet missile configuration with a 700-lb warhead, 700-nmi range at Mach 4.0/70,000-ft altitude using thrust vector control ahead of the ramjet engine for transition to the FASTHAWK supersonic cruise missile.

The LCMS concept comprises a fin-less, bending body airframe, fixed geometry annular inlet, and a slip-out booster/ramjet engine. The LCMS ATD program will be conducted jointly with the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, Calif., and will demonstrate through a series of ground and flight tests the technologies required to deliver a 700-pound payload to a range exceeding 700 nautical miles at a speed of Mach 4.0.

The LCMS was selected by the Navy's Science and Technology Working Group as the top-rated Navy Advanced Technology Demonstration Program for fiscal year 97. Autonetics and Missile Systems Division is partnered with the Naval Air Warfare Center, Airframe, Ordnance, and Propulsion Systems Division for the program. Joint risk-reduction activities were conducted earlier this year in the areas of propulsion, thrust vector control, and guidance and control.

The Low Cost Missile System was terminated for high payoff technical alternatives, cost growth and lack of transition support. FY 1999 efforts were limited to documentation of progress to date.