(U) Common Aero-Vehicle (CAV) for Military Spaceplane (MSP)

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U) The Common Aero Vehicle (CAV) is a concept for an aerodynamiclly designed re-entry (RV) vehicle with maneuvering capability for increased range and accuracy.  The CAV will be able to hold multiple targets at risk inlcudeing deeply buried, hard, and mobile targets.  Delivery of CAVs may also be conducted from a future miltary space plance (MSP) or conventional ballistic missiles.  

Description: (U)
(U)  The CAV is an aerodynamically designed re-entry vehicle (RV) with maneuvering capability for increased range and accuracy that would dispense submunitions.  A CAV would hold multiple targets at risk: deeply buried, hard, or mobile targets.  The vehicle could serve as a common form of delivery for CBM, MSP, or orbital systems.  CAV ICT focuses on concept development for ACTD in 2003-4 and pre-SPO activities.  ICT proposed $700 thousand from ICBM RV Applications for two contractors to conduct system analysis.  CAV is one of 13 options being considered for HDBT defeat.  

(U) The Military Space Plane (MSP) could carry several CAVs, each containing multiple submunitions.  Payloads under consideration for the CAV include three 250 lb small smart bombs, six 90 lb powered LOCAAS (Low Cost Autonomous Attack System) munitions, a hard and deeply buried target (HDBT) penetrator, a deployable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Hunter/Killer package, an agent defeat payload, and other special weapon payloads.  

(U) Lockheed Martin and Boeing are currently conducting preliminary design work on CAVs.  A CAV ACTD from a CBM is planned for 2003 though currently no programming dollars have been identified for this program.

User Impact: (U)
(U)  Space offers global coverage, quick response, and reduced risk to our forces.  This concept would give the user, US Space Command, the capability to strike targets from space or through space by non-nuclear means.  The importance to the warfighter is that this weapon would provide the capability for prompt, on-demand precision strike, flexible strike for different types of targets such as hard and deeply buried targets and also mobile targets, and flexible effects to satisfy deny, disrupt, destroy deficiencies.

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Concept/Technology.
	(U) IOC: 01/2012 (2QFY2012).

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) CBM with Common Aero-Vehicle, Military Space Plane

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) Non-Nuclear Strike

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) FORCE APPLICATION, National Security Space Road Map.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Air Force.

Date of Information: (U)
13 April 1998

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)