More CUDA Info

[southernphantom]

Best sensor suite ever with 12 missiles with full BVR range and 360 degree engagement sphere?

Complemented by the best AESA, RWR, kinematics, and RCS ever with same. Beat that, PLAAF

[spazsinbad]

Lockheed Reveals New Air-Launched Missile Concepts 17 Sep 2013 Bill Sweetman

..."On show for the first time at AFA is a model of Lockheed Martin’s Cuda, a so-called “Halfraam” weapon about half as long as an Amraam and compact enough to fit six missiles into each bay of the F-35 or F-22. Cuda draws on the hit-to-kill technology used on the PAC-3 missile, is designed to have a radar seeker and has both movable tails and forward attitude control motors for high agility. The company is not disclosing Cuda’s design range, but one variation of the concept is a two-stage missile with a similar total length to Amraam, presumably with the goal of covering a wide range envelope with a single missile design.

Both Cuda and SSTRR are being supported by independent research and development money and are being pushed as concepts of interest under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Air Dominance Initiative project...."

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 617260.xml

[count_to_10]

The company is not disclosing Cuda’s design range, but one variation of the concept is a two-stage missile with a similar total length to Amraam, presumably with the goal of covering a wide range envelope with a single missile design.

Now that's what I'm talking about. I was wondering why there were so few two stage A2A missiles out there. Lots of interesting (and sneaky) things you can do with them, and you can pretty much kiss your tail goodby if you are depending on outmaneuvering one.
On the other hand, does this means they are worried bout the maneuverability of the PAK-FA?

[SpudmanWP]

Just swap the NCADE front end with the CUDA missile wham, bam, thank you mam.

[cantaz]

On the other hand, does this means they are worried bout the maneuverability of the PAK-FA?

How so? If the idea is to have a standard CUDA with range roughly equal to the AMRAAM, then point of a boosted CUDA-ER is to explore the same expanded envelop that a hypothetical ramjet-powered AMRAAM (or existing Meteor) would explore. CUDA's endgame would remain the same in either config.

[popcorn]

A CUDA-ER would appear to address the need for a boost/ ascent-phase BMD capability originally driving NCADE. The NCADE IR seeker had been proven to work vs. a BM surrogate years ago so maybe that's another possibility. The F-35's 360-deg. spherical SA, specially in tandem with high-flying supercruising Raptors, would be great.

[Corsair1963]

Plus, even if the Cuda couldn't match the longer ranges of larger missiles like the AMRAAM or Meteor. (for example) The F-35 can clearly carry a mix of Air to Air Missiles. So, maybe one bay would carry 3-AMRAAM's (again for example) and the other bay with several Cuda's. It's not like it's either or.....

[count_to_10]

On the other hand, does this means they are worried bout the maneuverability of the PAK-FA?

How so? If the idea is to have a standard CUDA with range roughly equal to the AMRAAM, then point of a boosted CUDA-ER is to explore the same expanded envelop that a hypothetical ramjet-powered AMRAAM (or existing Meteor) would explore. CUDA's endgame would remain the same in either config.

The problem with single stage missiles is that they have very little energy at the extremes of their ranges. The AMRAAM, for instance, can get out to something like a hundred miles, but it's No Escape Zone is fairly close in. The Russians are "betting" on the T-50 being able to exploit that to evade BVR shots. A two-stage missile can be lobbed out to that range, and then fire it's second stage when it gets within the NEZ of the target.

[uclass]

Is the DACT system separate to both stages?

[SpudmanWP]

I found the roots of CUDA, and it was not in the depths of LM.

The earliest info that I could find (don’t worry, it will all tie together in the end) is from Feb2011:
http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2011PSA_Annual ... sFinal.pdf
On page 14 there is a vague entry titled “Small Advanced Capabilities Missile” with production in the “far term”. No other info in the PDF talks about it.

Next up is another PDF from later in Sep2011 (page 24):
http://www.ndiagulfcoast.com/events/arc ... mp2011.pdf
No detailed info but it does show SACM (1st use of the acronym) being used on both the F-35 and an AWACS. Not only does it show it shooting at a fighter, but also at in inbound missile (even from the AWACS).



Not much else was found till April 2014 (page8):
http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2014SET/Wilcox.pdf
This is what it said about the goals of SACM
• Flexible hyper-agile airframes, high impulse propulsion, affordable wide field of view seeker, anti-jam guidance integrated fuze, aim-able kinetic and non-kinetic effects
• Increased A/C loadout ---> increased sortie effectiveness
• Increased Pwe with kinematic advantage & increased lethality

Finally, there is another PDF from Nov 2014 (page 18) where the tie to CUDA and the DARPA ADI (Air Dominance Initiative) program is made.
http://www.ndiagulfcoast.com/events/arc ... AS2014.pdf
Here is what it said
•  High Load-Out
•  AMRAAM Complement
•  Counter 4th /5th Gen A/C & Cruise Missiles
•  Low Cost
•  Working Collaboration with DARPA under ADI
There is a CGI graphic on page 18 showing what is a dead-ringer of the CUDA in the bay of the F-35.



Now it makes sense where the Dec2013 AW Article LM said:
"Both Cuda and SSTRR are being supported by independent research and development money and are being pushed as concepts of interest under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Air Dominance Initiative project."

[popcorn]

Good sleuthing SWP.
Private industry recognized the tightening fiscal environment years back and has been more willing to fund internal and collaborative R&D initiatives. CUDA looks to deal with a variety of threats. Interesting concept providing otherwise vulnerable high-value assets with a self-defense capability vs. HARMs/SAM's.
I wonder how feasible it would-be adapt it to the DEAD/DEAD mission to help fill devoid created by the JDRADM cancellation? Would be nice but would probably pushing things... I.e.mission creep
Fingers crossed that CUDA materializes eventually with LM backing.

[SpudmanWP]

It's a good thing they did not call it the Small Capable Advanced Missile.

[popcorn]

It's a good thing they did not call it the Small Capable Advanced Missile.

LOL..
Downloaded the linked presentation and worth noting the continuing work on HVPW to increase velocity to 4000fps for enhanced lethality...also an intriguing ALCM for internal carriage with 400nm range. Also noticed the have a J-20 in lieu of Flanker or PAK-FA as representative opponent.

[spazsinbad]

Great stuff - thanks all - from 08 April 2014 Wilcox PDF: http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2014SET/Wilcox.pdf (2Mb)

[jimmer]

The Aim 9 block 3 is cancelled in the FY 16 budget. Maybe because of progress on Cuda? Or maybe just sequestration. Who knows.