The company’s solution will reduce the cost to launch hypersonic glide bodies.

General Hypersonics, Inc. (GHI) took the $40,000 of the $100,000 total prize pool in the final round of the Hypersonic Cost Reduction Challenge presented by National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane).

GHI presented their baffle-tube ram accelerator (Ramac), a low-cost, reusable chemical mass driver that reaches speeds of Mach 8. The Ramac lofts munitions 10 times further than gas guns and can be used to launch satellites.

Competitors focused on reducing the cost of all aspects of hypersonic glide bodies, which currently feature costly inertial sensors, communication and antenna systems, sub-assemblies, thermal protective systems, control surfaces, and launch processes.

“Hypersonic technologies represent one of the highest priority modernization areas for the DoD. Russia and China are working on their own capabilities,” shared Abigail Desjardins, NSIN’s Venture Portfolio Director and DIU Deputy Chief of Global Partnerships. “Competition from these nations makes it imperative for us to reduce costs so that we can test more often and develop solutions more quickly.”

Out of 21 applicants, GHI and the other three top ventures set forth solutions with the greatest potential to address costs. Cambium and Canopy Aerospace tied for second place and Longshot Space Technologies took third. All three companies received $20,000 for their technologies.

Cambium presented a high-temperature composite which is domestically-produced and suitable for hypersonic and aerospace applications. Their novel material is more cost-effective than legacy options while their domestic production provides advantages to supply chain security and production speed. Canopy Aerospace also addressed production, with the company’s use of additive manufacturing techniques, robotics, and digital design tools helping them deliver a cost advantage in the production of hypersonic technologies.

Longshot Space Technologies rounded out the top four with their launch solution, a multi-injection gun which leverages a kick stage and side thrusters to bring vehicles up to hypersonic speeds.

As the companies look ahead, the funding, recognition, and feedback gained from the challenge will give them positive momentum as they work to bring their solutions to the military.

“Winning an award through NSIN supports the credibility that our technology is on the right path towards supporting Warfighter needs and provides the needed capital to continue [our] development efforts,” explained Mark Russell, the Founder and CEO of General Hypersonics, Inc.

The selected awardees fell into one of two categories: One, improved material fabrication processes to deliver thermal management materials more quickly and less costly than current materials and processes. According to Moore, some of these solutions also show promise to deliver similar or better thermal management and structural strength with less weight than current materials. Two, technologies to reduce costs and schedule of hypersonic flight testing for systems and subsystems.

“If subsequent collaboration with the awardees is successful, we will be able to deliver critical weapon systems to the warfighter more quickly and at reduced cost than current manufacturing and development testing timelines indicate,” said Moore. “The NSIN team provided a great set of tools and templates for us to use and were available to answer our questions every step along the way. The NSIN process provides a well-designed path to get other organizations to look at technology challenges and provide possible solutions from multiple sources.”

About the Defense Innovation Unit

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology in the Department of Defense and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and Washington, DC, DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.

About National Security Innovation Network

NSIN is a component of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) program office. We are set up to collaborate with a wide variety of innovators to include universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that might not traditionally work in national security. Together, we help drive national security innovation and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.

For more information or interview requests with Team NSIN, please contact us at [email protected].