Orbital opens new Ramjet test facility
Orbital ATK has successfully completed the final validation and testing for its new clean air Ramjet test facility at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) in Rocket Center, West Virginia, the company announced on 19 October.
ABL is housed at the site owned by Naval Sea Systems Command. The facility features a clear-air testing environment for flying trajectories on the stand with real-time, variable mass flow-rate and temperature.
The facility accurately replicates the operational envelope of tactical air-breathing solid propulsion systems with air mass flow simulating up to Mach 4.5 and temperatures up to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, providing real-world simulation with a clean-air environment free of combustion byproducts.
Pat Nolan, vice president and general manager, missile products division of the Defense Systems Group, Orbital ATK, said: ‘This new facility is a national asset, providing the means to test next-generation missile propulsion components. We have the ability to ‘fly a mission’ during test, which reduces costs associated with conducting multiple point tests.’
More from Land Warfare
-
Polaris to unveil new MRZR Alpha base vehicle at Modern Day Marine
The new platform was designed to provide 1KW of exportable power as standard and has been developed in partnership with the US Marine Corps (USMC).
-
British Army details Ajax plans
Of the six variants in the Ajax programme – reconnaissance (Ajax), reconnaissance support (Ares), C2 (Athena), equipment repair (Apollo), equipment recovery (Atlas) and engineering reconnaissance (Argus) – the Ajax reconnaissance version is now entering service.
-
CV90 revels in northern exposure while looking for new customers (updated April 2025)
The BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 IFV has been around for decades but continual refreshing to maintain power and relevance, along with a healthy market at home in Sweden and neighbouring countries, has led to more than 1,700 vehicle orders with 10 countries.
-
Oshkosh notches JLTV win with Dutch order
The order further extends the Oshkosh Defense production line as AM General, selected for US orders, pushes to get vehicles out the door with no room for export orders.
-
US and Europe continue moves to boost 155mm munitions production
The new US facility for 155mm artillery projectiles is a reflection of a worldwide trend which has also seen Rheinmetall and BAE Systems working to improve capability in the same area.