TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Kymeta is working on a conformal antenna that could be integrated into the body of missiles being developed by iRocket, enabling the multi-orbit connectivity they say will be vital for the U.S. Golden Dome interceptor network.<\/p>\n
The companies announced a partnership Nov. 19 to leverage the metamaterial technology used in Kymeta\u2019s multi-orbit broadband user terminals to connect IRX-100, a short-range missile iRocket (Innovative Rocket Technologies) flew for the first time last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can expect these missile interceptors to operate in heavily degraded and jammed environments,\u201d Kymeta chief scientist Ryan Stevenson told SpaceNews via email.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need uninterrupted access to targeting data and command-and-control links (inflight track updates) while traveling at extreme speeds, often through contested airspace where GPS, tactical radio frequencies, and single-orbit [satellite communications] are jammed.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevenson said multi-orbit connectivity would shift interceptors from pre-programmed, largely autonomous weapons to fully networked systems able to adapt in flight, stay connected in contested environments and respond to evolving threats with greater precision and reliability.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore Kymeta\u2019s conformal multi-orbit solution, missile interceptors were challenged with exotic antennae solutions that were a challenge to task, communicate with, and keep thermally performant,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt would take multiple components or subsystems that would consume more weight and power.\u201d<\/p>\n Redmond, Washington-based Kymeta has a proof of concept for the technology, which is at an early stage of development.<\/p>\n New York\u2013based iRocket is designing the 91-centimeter-tall IRX-100 to be integrated with the U.S. military\u2019s Hydra 70 rocket system, aiming to provide early revenues to support the development of Shockwave, a 38-meter-tall vehicle for launching small and medium-sized payloads.<\/p>\n \u201cIRX-100 will use the technology, as will larger missile systems,\u201d said Asad Malik, iRocket\u2019s founder, chairman and CEO.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will include new innovations as well as integration with legacy launchers and pre-existing systems. We also see application for integration within our space launch systems.\u201d<\/p>\n Target: Golden Dome<\/p>\n