Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a leading provider of national security solutions, announced that its Defense and Missile Systems Services (DRSS) Division, in collaboration with Kratos’ Unmanned Systems Division, has received a contract from major teammate and partner Leidos to support Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and Strike Program, known as Mayhem.
As noted by the company, this new contract award will support the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) development of a hypersonic weapon system for an initial period of 51 months. The initial task order will conduct a System Requirements Review (SRR) and Concept Design Review (CoDR) in a Digital Engineering (DE) environment.
In partnership with Leidos, Kratos will serve as a member of the System Design Agent (SDA) team for the Mayhem program, which also includes Calspan and Draper. SDA’s goal is to design a system that allows rapid insertion of relevant technology using the expertise and capabilities of various industry partners. SDA’s role for this program will also include bringing together the best in industry to conduct the research and development necessary to produce prototype air-breathing multi-mission hypersonic systems. SDA will oversee designs, prototypes and tests to ultimately produce and deliver a technical data package for relevant high performance hypersonic weapon systems.
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Air-breathing hypersonic systems use scramjet engines to generate thrust, propelling the vehicle long distances at speeds in excess of Mach 5. The SDA team is tasked with designing and developing a large-class version that surpasses current inhalation systems in range and payload and is responsible for delivering the hypersonic system design that includes the airframe, propulsion system, booster, avionics and vehicle subsystems.
“This opportunity will provide a unique capability to our Warfighters and we are excited to be a part of the new Mayhem program. As a key part of the SDA team, Kratos will drive mission success using our flight-proven principles of agile digital engineering and extensive experience in the design of high-performance propulsion, hypersonic and air vehicles,” said Dave Carter, president of DRSS. “Kratos has successfully developed and flown several hypersonic ‘systems’ over the past decade, and our internally funded hypersonic investments in unique systems, including Zeus and Erinius, are beginning to pay dividends in important national security solutions.”
Eric DeMarco, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kratos, said, “Kratos’ mission is to be a disruptive transformational agent for the US National Security industrial base and market, rapidly designing, developing, manufacturing and deploying affordable systems and technology. The award of the Mayhem Hypersonic Systems program with our strategic partner Leidos is a recent representative example of our continued success.”