UPI, Palmdale: Lockheed Martin of California has received a $175 million contract to continue development of a missile capable of flying at four times the speed of sound.
The company said Wednesday the pact signed late last month with the Office of Naval Research is part of the RATTLRS program, which is seeking to develop a new missile that can be launched from an aircraft, ship or submarine and reach speeds up to Mach 4.
The missile is based on advances in turbine propulsion technology that will allow the rocket to reach unprecedented speeds without the need for afterburners or heavy loads of fuel.
RATTLRS stands for 'Revolutionary Approach to Time-critical Long Range Strike. As envisioned, it would produce a tactical air-launched missile with a 500-pound payload and a long-range, sea-launched vehicle with a 750-pound payload.
