The Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) state-of-the-art air-breathing hypersonic system, Mayhem, has successfully undergone two critical reviews conducted by Leidos, a leading global provider of technology and defence solutions. The conceptual design review and the system requirements review are now complete, which is a major step forward in the development of the next generation of air-breathing hypersonic technology. The reviews, which demonstrated the designs and technology intended for high-speed systems like Mayhem, were carried out in the digital engineering environment.
The application of a system design agent (SDA) build by Leidos was a key element in this enormous accomplishment. Leidos assembled a nationwide group of hypersonic specialists as part of the SDA strategy, promoting cooperation between 15 organizations from business and academia, each of which provided specialized knowledge to ensure the assignment was completed successfully.
Leidos and the SDA team—which consists of Calspan, Draper, and Kratos Defence & Security Solutions—were able to concentrate on modular architectures and government data rights by utilizing the SDA construct. They also were able to create a workforce pipeline by working with the aerospace department and U-M x88 Model-Based Systems Engineering lab at the University of Michigan, as well as fostering an environment that supports best-of-breed technology. The foundation for streamlining the acquisition life cycle was established by the marriage of the SDA business model with AFRL’s vision for digital engineering.
Mayhem’s conceptual system design surpasses present capabilities and takes its place in the evolution of hypersonic weapons, driven by future capability needs and designed by the nation’s best hypersonic experts. AFRL intends to utilize Leidos’ and the SDA’s experience through the Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission Platform Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract to further advance hypersonic technology maturation.
Mayhem Program Manager Tiffany Creamer stated, “We are thrilled with the outcomes of these reviews. Mayhem represents a leap forward in hypersonic capabilities. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and collaborating with AFRL to deliver impactful solutions to our warfighters, even in the face of short-term funding challenges.”
