Hypersonic missile tech will be focus of U.S. DoD, Norway alliance
NewsApril 21, 2020
WASHINGTON. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Norway’s defense ministry announced an agreement -- the first to be publicly revealed under DoD’s new Allied Prototyping Initiative (API) -- to partner on development of ramjet-propulsion technologies, which the U.S. Navy and Army have been studying closely to power future hypersonic missiles.
The Tactical High-Speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range (THOR-ER) intends to collaborate to develop and integrate advancements in solid-fuel ramjet technologies into full-size prototypes that are affordable, can operate at high speeds, and achieve extended range, culminating in flight demonstrations in operationally relevant conditions. The alliance will also consider potential U.S. and Norwegian coproduction opportunities.
Morten Tiller, Norwegian national armaments director, said of the accord: "The THOR-ER development incorporates the results of long term R and D on missile and rocket technology in Norway. In my opinion, this merger of U.S. and Norwegian R and D efforts and engineering skills strengthens alliance innovation; in addition, it represents an opportunity for closer defense industrial base cooperation".
