In 1977 APL initiated the Ducted
Rocket Engine Development Program
(DRED) to develop a fixed flow
hydrocarbon gas generator engine design
which would meet the tactical air-to-air
requirements. The DRED program
produced Arcadene 399, the industry's first
truly demonstrated reduced smoke propellant
with low temperature sensitivity and a low
burn rate exponent. In the same time frame,
RPL conducted several programs to develop
a reduced smoke nozzleless booster which
was compatible with the DRED ramburner.
In 1979 APL awarded the Ducted
Rocket-Propulsion Technology Validation
Program (DR-PTV). The contractor team
was made up of Hughes Missile Systems
Company (Prime), Atlantic Research
Corporation (Gas Generator), Marquandt
(Inlets)^and UTC/CSD (Propulsion
Integration). The program objective was to
integrate the selected DRED engine
configuration into a flight test vehicle which
was compatible with the AMRAAM AIM
120 design and interface requirements. The
configuration utilized a fixed flow gas
generator with Arcadene 399 fuel to feed the
dual air inlet ramburner combustion
chamber. Both direct-connect and freejet
engine tests were conducted to demonstrate
sustainer and boost-sustainer transition
performance. The freejet tests were
conducted in the Air Force's AEDC/APTU
faculty in Tullahoma, Tennessee, Figure 6.
Nozzleless booster development was
conducted by RPL under contract to Atlantic
Research Corporation. Unfortunately,
funding for the planned flight test program
never materialized.