Wind Tunnel Capabilities Strategy Application and Verification for Future Requirements

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1 Wind Tunnel Capabilities Strategy Application and Verification for Future Requirements October 2015 Dr Dai Morris - Head

2 Contents Introduction to Who / what is SDSR and customer perspective Complex Weapons context Recognising Achievements Limitations Opportunities Future requirements A personal view of 5 Areas-of-interest

3 SRO for UK Complex Weapons Portfolio ~ 8Bn over 10 years Delivers to all services Maintain UK Freedom of Action (FOA) and Operational Sovereignty (OpSov) Provide increase military capability at reduced cost SRO for UK Evaluation capability ~ 2.5Bn over 10 years LTPA and other activities Broad spectrum of activities from BMD to small arms

4 MOD Perspective UK is approaching the end of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). Announcements in due course. Number of key strategic decisions likely to be made. Potential significant impact to portfolio UK committed to 2% of GDP on defence spending in Nevertheless, finances are still constrained This position should be viewed as the new normal

5 Complex Weapons Perspective UK s primary driver is cost. Rather have the same capability at lower cost than a better capability at higher cost. Afford to increase combat mass and seize opportunities as they present themselves Recognise that the world changes rapidly Advances in technologies can quickly alter the balance of the battlefield UK continues to develop technology bank to draw on. Need to develop ways of rapidly drawing on technologies..

6 An Evaluation Perspective UK MOD objectives for sponsoring T&E Is the equipment / capability safe? Is the equipment / capability what we contracted for? Is the equipment / capability suitable for warfighter use? Test and Evaluation are different Test gathers data Evaluation draws a conclusion based on data and experience Test and Evaluation can both be a mix of simulation and real The real issue is the confidence in the answer

7 Aerodynamic Data Sources Increasing Fidelity/Cost Flight testing (the truth!) Wind tunnel testing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Engineering prediction methods Historical data / experience Detailed Design & Assessment Conceptual Design

8 Recognising Success Wind tunnel research is vital to the development and integration of complex weapons and platforms Wind tunnel activities demonstrate the behaviour of real physical systems. Verification of computational methods Investigation of problems too complicated to model or model with confidence Component and whole system investigations Reveals unexpected phenomena Practical investigation develops skills and knowledge in a way that no classroom or simulation could.

9 Recent MOD Sponsored WT Testing Weapon carriage & release ARA transonic wind tunnel (TWT) Weapon Aerodynamics BAE Systems high speed wind tunnel (HSWT) FCAS aerodynamics BAE Systems low speed wind tunnel (LSWT) Supersonic intakes Gas Dynamics Ludweig tube

10 Recognising Limitations Capabilities of modern CFD mean that wind tunnels are used to confirm predictions rather than develop designs Cheaper to run No issues with scale effects, model interference, blockage or lead time Can be operated by less technically specialised personnel Far lower facility costs Greater diversity of application and higher utilisation Market forces have reduced UK capacity One or two facilities in each regime Requirement to make the case for investment

11 5 Future Defence Requirements Safe separation Continue to ensure safe separation Bomb bay aerodynamics What forces and vibration do the aircraft, payload experience? What is the environment the weapon encounters on separation? Novel aerodynamics How can wind tunnels contribute to the rapid and iterative development of radically shaped concepts

12 5 Future Defence Requirements Synergy with computational methods How can modelling and experimentation be combined to greatest effect Beyond validation of models can wind tunnels be combined to greater effect when developing concepts. Maintain and develop expertise Ensure that SQEP in this area is maintained Develop the people an tools to solve future problems Allow innovation to take place, identifying and developing appropriate ideas as they arise.

13 Summary Wind tunnel modelling is vital to the UK defence sector. Provides information and confidence that cannot be achieved elsewhere. Some market share has been irretrievably lost to other methods. The MOD will require questions to a number of new technical areas in the future Progress to reduced cost or rapid development is also desirable Continued innovation along with development of facilities, techniques and personnel will be required to maintain a strong presence in this area

14 Questions?