Army Wants Software to Predict Hypersonics’ Weather-Based Survivability for Joint Military Tests

As they work with other military units to jointly make and field advanced weapon systems, officials in the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office rely on Weather Analysis and Survivability Prediction software to inform launch decisions based on real-time meteorological conditions.

According to a recent sources sought notice, that office is now interested in vendors that can provide such WAASP software capabilities specifically for “Hypersonic Joint Flight Campaign Testing,” which essentially involves developing and assessing technologies that can travel five or more times the speed of sound.

“The WAASP software enables decision-makers to make a vehicle survivability assessment when direct ground-based radar measurements are not available. Previous use of WAASP estimated the potential impact of weather on different vehicles' performance using ground-based radar data,” officials wrote in the notice. “In order to support future joint flight testing, the WAASP software will require additional functionality and methodologies to create this estimate in broad ocean areas (BOA) that do not have direct three-dimensional meteorological radar measurements.”

Though the office “believes Lockheed Martin Corporation is the only responsible source capable of providing this software within the required schedule and budget,” officials added, other potential partners are invited to respond with information demonstrating their technologies by April 15. 

The U.S. recently completed a successful test of a hypersonic missile, the Pentagon confirmed earlier this month.