Motors Produced Velocity Exceeding Mach 2

Aero-News learned this week the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake conducted a successful MK70 drag run at its Supersonic Naval Ordnance Research Track (SNORT) on August 16.

"This was our second firing run after finishing a yearlong revitalization project," said Matt Boggs, chief engineer of the land range. "It was a great team effort and I appreciate the support from everyone involved who made this another successful test event at SNORT."

SNORT used an existing sled that was powered by two MK70 solid rocket motors to obtain a thrust profile for a propulsion motor that was recently added to its inventory for an upcoming customer test.

The successful firing of the MK70 motors produced a velocity of over Mach 2, which proved the desired reliability for high speed testing capabilities for SNORT customers. The velocity was monitored by various instrumentations such as a velocity measurement system and a tracking mount. These instrumentations measured at 100-foot intervals along the main 4.1-mile track. At shorter intervals, there were portable tracking systems, which were used to determine the barriers involved in testing and for the release of accidental weapons.

Several China Lake employees including some from the Engineer and Scientist Development Program, as well as other interns turned out to watch the launch of the drag run.

"I was very impressed with the interest of China Lake employees in this test," Boggs said. "The enthusiasm they showed for the launch was great and they were eager to see more."

In over 50 years, SNORT has logged more than 9,000 track test runs.

"I'm proud to say that we at SNORT continue to meet each of its customers testing needs," Boggs said. "We look forward to even more success in the future."

(Aero-News thanks Staci Mathews, NAWCWD Public Affairs, and Brian Bartels for his photographs.)

FMI: www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/