Red Wasp

A new take on one of the Army's most versatile missiles

 

Red Wasp is an air defense interceptor science and technology program at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center, utilizing advanced propulsion technology. Initially conceptualized in 2022, the Air and Missile Defense Capability Area in DEVCOM AvMC’s Technology Development Directorate selected the Stinger form factor as a worthy candidate to apply solid fuel ramjet technology to dramatically increase its potential effective distance.

Red Wasp test fire

“When we first explored the concept, several industry propulsion experts expressed concerns about the feasibility of applying solid fuel ramjet technology to the Stinger form factor,” said Capability Area Lead for Air and Missile Defense John Gibbs. “The team took that as a challenge and within 18 months, successfully demonstrated the concept in a flight test.”

 

Advancing range and performance with solid fuel ramjet propulsion

Red Wasp is designed to leverage solid fuel ramjet propulsion to significantly extend the range of a Stinger-sized rocket motor beyond current capabilities. By eliminating the need to carry an onboard oxidizer, this approach delivers greater engine performance within the same combustor volume. The result is a missile that flies faster and reaches much farther without increasing the interceptor size or requiring a new launcher.

 

Potential Collaboration Areas:
 
  • High Performance Insulation
    • Investigate lighter, less expensive and higher performing insulation to withstand longer burn times
  • Alternate Case Material Development
    • Investigate lower cost and less exotic rocket motor case material
  • Supersonic Wind Tunnel Facilities
    • Partner with DEVCOM AvMC to test inlet performance at various conditions

TRENDING STORIES

The Red Wasp Team standing in a group on a test range

NEW PROPULSION PROGRAM FOR LEGACY MISSILE DELIVERS A SHARPER STING


“Red Wasp will enable soldiers to engage Short Range Air Defense, or SHORAD, threats such as unmanned aerial systems with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or ISR, capabilities at much longer ranges. Denying adversarial UAS with ISR packages the ability to target us increases our survivability.”