A rocket motor has an energetic material between solid fuel (propellent) and a casing that surrounds the solid fuel. The energetic material is configured to be burned along with the solid fuel during normal operation of the rocket motor to produce thrust. The energetic material can also be detonated to cause rupture of the casing. The detonation may be initiated as part of a flight termination process. The detonation may also be initiated as a part of process to prevent as a higher-order reaction, such as in reaction to heating from a fire or other cause. The energetic material may be arranged to function as part of a shaped charge, able to split the casing when detonated. By being located inside the casing, the energetic material does not adversely affect aerodynamics of the flight vehicle of which the rocket motor is a part, such as a missile.

A multi-pulse propulsion system includes at least one pulse chamber containing at least one propellant for igniting during at least one pulse of the multi-pulse propulsion system, at least one additional pulse chamber containing at least one additional propellant for igniting during at least one additional pulse of the multi-pulse propulsion system, and at least one passive fuzing system configured to initiate the at least one additional pulse. The at least one passive fuzing system includes a sensor and an igniter. The sensor is configured to sense an environmental condition and/or a ballistic condition. The igniter is configured to provide a stimulus that causes ignition of the at least one additional propellant in response to the sensor sensing that the environmental condition and/or the ballistic condition has reached or exceeded one or more threshold values.

A multi-pulse propulsion system includes at least one pulse chamber containing at least one propellant for igniting during at least one pulse of the multi-pulse propulsion system, at least one additional pulse chamber containing at least one additional propellant for igniting during at least one additional pulse of the multi-pulse propulsion system, and at least one passive fuzing system configured to initiate the at least one additional pulse. The at least one passive fuzing system includes a sensor and an igniter. The sensor is configured to sense an environmental condition and/or a ballistic condition. The igniter is configured to provide a stimulus that causes ignition of the at least one additional propellant in response to the sensor sensing that the environmental condition and/or the ballistic condition has reached or exceeded one or more threshold values.

A rocket motor for a gun-fired projectile is configured stiffen the burnable propellant in the rocket motor during burning and/or protect the rocket motor from the pressure that occurs during firing of the projectile from the gun. The rocket motor may include a rigid structure that is integrated into the burnable propellant grain to stabilize the burnable propellant grain during burning of the burnable propellant grain. The rigid structure has a matrix or truss-like shape that extends into the depth of the burnable propellant grain. The rocket motor may include a baffled end cap that covers a nozzle of the rocket motor. The end cap defines a baffled path through the end cap to dampen gas flow into the nozzle and prevent particles of the gun propellant from entering the rocket motor. A rocket motor may implement the rigid structure or the baffled end cap, or both structures.

A rocket motor for a gun-fired projectile is configured stiffen the burnable propellant in the rocket motor during burning and/or protect the rocket motor from the pressure that occurs during firing of the projectile from the gun. The rocket motor may include a rigid structure that is integrated into the burnable propellant grain to stabilize the burnable propellant grain during burning of the burnable propellant grain. The rigid structure has a matrix or truss-like shape that extends into the depth of the burnable propellant grain. The rocket motor may include a baffled end cap that covers a nozzle of the rocket motor. The end cap defines a baffled path through the end cap to dampen gas flow into the nozzle and prevent particles of the gun propellant from entering the rocket motor. A rocket motor may implement the rigid structure or the baffled end cap, or both structures.

A high density, generally recognized as safe, hybrid rocket motor is described, having a density-specific impulse similar to a solid rocket motor, with good performance approaching or equal to a liquid rocket motor. These high density hybrid motors resolve the packaging efficiency/effectiveness problems limiting the application of safe, low cost hybrid motor technology.

A high density, generally recognized as safe, hybrid rocket motor is described, having a density-specific impulse similar to a solid rocket motor, with good performance approaching or equal to a liquid rocket motor. These high density hybrid motors resolve the packaging efficiency/effectiveness problems limiting the application of safe, low cost hybrid motor technology.

Various embodiments of a vortex hybrid motor system are described herein. In some embodiments, the vortex hybrid motor system can include a control system, a vortex hybrid motor, and an oxidizer injector. The oxidizer injector can be in fluid communication with a combustion zone defined by a fuel core and/or housing of the vortex hybrid motor. In some embodiments, at least one material regression sensor can be positioned along the fuel core and sensed data from the material regression sensors can be provided to the control system for determining one or more characteristics associated with the fuel core. The control system can control, based on the analyzed sensed data, the oxidizer injector for modulating an oxidizer flow rate delivered to the combustion zone to achieve a desired oxidizer-to-fuel ratio.

Various embodiments of a vortex hybrid motor system are described herein. In some embodiments, the vortex hybrid motor system can include a control system, a vortex hybrid motor, and an oxidizer injector. The oxidizer injector can be in fluid communication with a combustion zone defined by a fuel core and/or housing of the vortex hybrid motor. In some embodiments, at least one material regression sensor can be positioned along the fuel core and sensed data from the material regression sensors can be provided to the control system for determining one or more characteristics associated with the fuel core. The control system can control, based on the analyzed sensed data, the oxidizer injector for modulating an oxidizer flow rate delivered to the combustion zone to achieve a desired oxidizer-to-fuel ratio.

A turbojet engine capable of operation in an Air Turbo Rocket (ATR) mode includes a compressor, a rotatable turbine wheel comprising turbine blades, a non-rotating guide vane ring comprising guide vanes, a turbine shaft configured to power said compressor, a combustor, a gas generator, and a main combustor. The main combustor is configured to combust hot, fuel rich gas from the gas generator in air compressed by the compressor. Hot, fuel rich gas from the gas generator is directed towards the turbine blades by a directing means.