AFRL Missile Utility Transformation via Articulated Nose Technology (MUTANT)
Air Force Research Laboratory
Video by Bradley T Bowman
March 1, 2023 | 3:05
The AFRL MUTANT program is developing technologies to significantly increase missile range and lethality against highly maneuverable targets with a better flight control actuation system. The MUTANT program employs a form of active morphing involving high-rate pivoting of the missile forebody, referred to as articulation.
Morphing weapons technology allows continuous outer-mold line change to tailor performance to each phase of flight. Historically, size, weight and power of morphing technology has been prohibitive to a missile system level benefit. MUTANT is in the midst of tipping the scale in the morphing weapon’s favor. More