Disguised Hypersonic Strike Architecture

This article presents a unified, single-stage hydrolox strike architecture designed to shift modern anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) economics. Utilizing an internal fluidic-ejector mixing duct, a 100-bar fuel-rich core rocket, a top-mounted boundary-layer suction inlet, and an aft base pressure recovery afterburner, the airframe transitions dynamically between high-efficiency low-Mach cruise (I_sp ≈ 2,200 s) and terminal hypersonic sprint (Mach 4.5+). By matching airframe geometries across variants and shifting high-Mach combustion externally, the architecture creates severe target classification ambiguity for enemy Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) systems. To solve liquid hydrogen (LH₂) boil-off and transit hazards, this article proposes converting decommissioning nuclear supercarriers (e.g., Nimitz-class hulls) into dedicated Hydrolox Arsenal Ships, utilizing aboard reactor thermal energy for seawater In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) fuel generation.

Key Architectural & Propulsion Mechanics

Fluidic Ejector Air-Augmentation: A high-pressure (100 bar) hydrolox core jet (> 6,500 m/s) entrains ambient air via an internal mixing duct, eliminating the need for jettisonable solid rocket boosters and generating full static takeoff thrust (v = 0).

Top Boundary-Layer Suction: The upper-hull intake ingests the low-velocity boundary layer, lowering static pressure above the airframe to generate lift while keeping the underside clean for shock-wave compression.

External Wake Afterburner (EMS): High-speed combustion occurs in the low-pressure recirculation zone behind the base plate, auto-igniting regeneratively heated hydrogen (GH₂) to eliminate base drag and bypass internal Rayleigh thermal choking.

REBCO HTS Magnetoaerodynamic Control: Liquid hydrogen at 20 K acts as a zero-weight cryo-coolant for an aft REBCO High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) ring. Powered by an internal PEM fuel cell, the magnet provides non-mechanical wake vectoring and shapes the external combustion expansion bubble.

Tactical Mechanics: The "Disguised Hypersonic" Dilemma

The system exploits tactical ambiguity to paralyze enemy Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) during Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) operations:

Signature Uniformity: The low-speed stealth cruise variant and the hypersonic sprint variant utilize identical airframe dimensions, composite outer hulls, and low-altitude profiles. Radar and EO/IR tracking systems cannot differentiate the two during the cruise phase.

Economic Asymmetry: Defenders face a critical choice: expend multi-million-dollar interceptors (e.g., PAC-3, SM-6) on what appears to be a low-speed cruise missile, or withhold fire and risk a sudden terminal re-acceleration to Mach 4.5+ within the radar horizon.

Plasma Decoupling & Seeker Transparency: Flying 95% of the trajectory subsonically prevents bow-shock plasma generation, keeping the skin cool and allowing onboard sensors to locate radar emitters without thermal lens distortion before the final sprint.

Comparative Architecture Overview

Operational Integration: The Nuclear Hydrolox Arsenal Ship

To eliminate liquid hydrogen transport risks, the architecture utilizes a dedicated naval conversion of aging nuclear aircraft carrier hulls:

Conversion Rationale: Removing catapults, arresting gear, aircraft maintenance bays, and aviation fuel (JP-5) vaults frees up internal space for containerized PEM electrolyzers and helium-loop cryogenic chillers.

On-Demand ISRU Production: Drawing seawater and gigawatt-scale thermal/electrical power from the carrier's reactors, the ship generates pure LH₂ and LOX on site, fueling dry-stored airframes within 30 to 60 minutes.

Dry Stowage Advantage: Airframes are shipped and stored without hazardous propellants, doubling internal magazine capacity while completely eliminating shipboard fuel-fire risks.

Deep Maritime Standoff: Operating from a safe standoff radius (2,500-4,000 km) outside anti-ship missile threat rings (e.g., in the Arabian Sea or Western Pacific), the Arsenal Ship projects continuous strike power directly into contested maritime chokepoints without exposing manned air wings.