top of page

Strategic Defense Systems

​​

OFFICIAL NOTICE: The hardware and technologies listed on this page represent past engineering projects developed strictly as non-lethal concept platforms.

Following a strategic decision by executive leadership, the defense program has been permanently concluded and will not be resumed under any circumstances. While technical and commercial meetings were held with two NATO militaries, ArcaSpace ultimately elected to align its resources exclusively toward civil aerospace initiatives.

ArcaSpace has never engaged, and maintains a strict policy to never engage, under any circumstances or scenarios in military partnerships, technology transfers, know-how transfer, or defense manufacturing of any kind, including lethal or non-lethal, domestically or internationally.

​​​​​

A1_8.jpg

​

Program Overview

 

ArcaSpace designed, manufactured, and tested non-lethal, highly cost-effective strategic defense platforms: low-altitude anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptors, target rockets, and hypersonic reentry target vehicles.

​

Access 1.jpg


A1 Series: Point-Defense ABM Interceptors 

 

The A1 series was engineered as an innovative class of point-defense interceptor concepts intended to safeguard high-value strategic infrastructure. Rather than relying on direct hit-to-kill kinetic warheads, the A1 series was designed to deploy high-density kinetic countermeasures directly into the flight path of incoming threats.

Unlike conventional interceptors that relied on toxic or volatile propellants, the A1 series utilized a benign, non-flammable 50/50 water and hydrogen peroxide (H2​O2​) propellant mixture designed for extreme cost efficiency and operational simplicity.

 

Key System Innovations:

  • Electromechanical Reliability & EW Immunity: Designed without onboard microelectronics or complex guidance computers, the flight sequence operated via electromechanical systems, making it virtually immune to Electronic Warfare (EW) jamming or cyber countermeasures.

  • Passive Countermeasure Dispersion: Rather than relying on direct track-to-kill guidance, the A1 deployed a massive cloud of dense metallic pellets, chaff, and flares at pre-programmed altitudes, utilizing the target's high terminal velocity to compromise its structural integrity.

  • Non-Lethal Vapor Decoy: Rapid steam generation created localized atmospheric vapor clouds during launch, providing optical deception against incoming guided threats.

  • Reusability & Parachute Recovery: Equipped with an automated recovery parachute, the spent airframe descended safely for technical inspection and warhead refitting.

  • Detection & Fire Control: Interceptions relied on four Infrared Search and Track (IRST) units providing a 70 km detection range to compute Time-To-Target (TTT), allowing the operator to execute launch sequences using simplified hardware controls, resistant at countermeasures.

​​

A1A_Interceptor_Antiballistic_ARCA.jpg

​
A1A Interceptor Profile (Ultra-Low Altitude)

​

  • Design Profile: Engineered for ultra-low-altitude point-defense against incoming hypersonic and supersonic targets (MIRV-equipped ICBMs, SLBMs, IRBMs, MRBMs, RV-equipped SRBMs, Hypersonic Missiles, and Supersonic Cruise Missiles with ground-underground detonation warheads).

  • Operational Interception Altitude: 100 m - 200 m.

  • Warhead Concept: Designed to deploy a high-density sector composed of 10 tons of kinetic pellets, chaff, and flares at altitudes up to 200 m.

  • Target Neutralization Method: Incoming warheads were to be disrupted or diverted through kinetic impact or electronic sensor deception. Warhead contained 2,000,000 heavy metallic pellets, chaff, and flares. Up to 130 kJ per pellet (against high-hypersonic RVs).

  • Defended Area (DA) Coverage: 200 m DA diameter (400 m buffer zone)

​

A1A Technical Characteristics

​

  • Length: 11.4 m

  • Diameter: 1.2 m

  • Empty weight: 400 kg

  • Propellant weight: 2,300 kg

  • Thrust at sea level: 34,000 kgf

  • Engine run time: 3.9 s

  • Active altitude: 150 m

  • Apogee: 480 m

  • Time to apogee: 12 s

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.28

  • Warhead weight: 10,000 kg​

​

A1B_Interceptor_Antiballistic_ARCA.jpg

​
A1B Interceptor Profile  (Low Altitude)

​

  • Design Profile: Designed for low-altitude engagement of incoming warheads (up to 500-kiloton nuclear air-burst warheads or conventional cluster munitions).

  • Operational Interception Altitude: 1,000 m – 2,000 m.

  • Warhead Concept: Designed to deploy a 6-ton pellet, chaff, and flare cloud at altitudes up to 2,000 m, engaging incoming warheads at optimum detonation altitudes.

  • Target Neutralization Method: Incoming warheads were to be disrupted or diverted through kinetic impact or electronic sensor deception. Warhead contained 20,000,000 high-density micro-pellets, chaff, and flares. Up to 5 kJ per pellet (optimized for wide-area coverage).

  • Defended Area (DA) Coverage: 400 m DA diameter (800 m cloud area)

​

A1B Technical Characteristics

  • Length: 12 m

  • Diameter: 1.2 m

  • Empty weight: 450 kg

  • Propellant weight: 4,800 kg

  • Thrust at sea level: 34,000 kgf

  • Engine run time: 8 s

  • Active altitude: 1,200 m

  • Apogee: 4,100 m

  • Time to apogee: 29 s

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.89

  • Warhead weight: 6,000 kg​​​

​

Postare_A1_interceptor_ARCA.jpg


Tactical Engagement & Firing Solutions

​​

  1. Detection (70 km Range): IRST sensors acquired incoming hypersonic/supersonic entry vehicles, relaying continuous altitude and TTT data to the command station.

  2. Arming Phase: The operator engaged the master "ARM" switch, initiating a countdown confirmation window (10s for A1A / 8s for A1B) and selecting the directional warhead spread (360° wide or 90° focused sector).

  3. Pneumatic Ignition: Pressurization and liftoff occurred within 3 seconds of pressing "LAUNCH".

  4. Warhead Dispersion: Mechanical activation dispersed the countermeasure dome at the target altitude (3–6s post-liftoff for A1A; 7–10s for A1B).

  5. Apogee & Recovery: Following fuel depletion and warhead deployment, the interceptor reached apogee (480 m for A1A; 4,100 m for A1B) and deployed its recovery parachute.

​


Target Rocket Series (CER)

​​

The CER-160TR, CER-500TR, and CER-1200TR were clean, cost-effective target rocket concepts designed for anti-ballistic and air-defense live-fire training applications.

​

Propellant & Operating Architecture

  • Eco-Friendly Propellant: Operated on a 30/70 water–H2​O2​ mixture (with an optional 50/50 blend), eliminating toxic chemical exhaust.

  • Zero Electronics / Single-Valve Operation: Designed without onboard electronics or computers. A single valve controlled engine start, requiring no specialized aerospace training for operation.

  • Variable Altitude Control: Unlike solid-propellant target rockets, target altitude was adjusted prior to launch simply by altering the liquid propellant volume loaded into the tank.

​

Target Simulation Profiles

  • CER-160TR: Designed to simulate heavy artillery rockets for tactical air-defense training.

  • CER-500TR: Designed to simulate Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBMs), large-caliber artillery rockets, and low-altitude cruise missiles.

  • CER-1200TR: Designed to simulate Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs), Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBMs), and fighter aircraft flight profiles.

​

CER-160TR Technical Characteristics

  • Length: 7.5 m

  • Diameter: 0.16 m

  • Diameter over fins: 0.65 m

  • Empty weight: 12 kg

  • Propellant weight: 110 kg

  • Payload weight: 3 kg​​​

  • Launch weight: 125 kg

  • Engine run time: 50 s

  • Apogee: 20,000 m

  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.9

​

CER-500TR Technical Characteristics

  • Length: 10 m

  • Diameter: 0.5 m

  • Diameter over fins: 1.9 m

  • Empty weight: 100 kg

  • Propellant weight: 1,400 kg

  • Payload weight: 100 kg​​​

  • Launch weight: 1,600 kg

  • Engine run time: 60 s

  • Apogee: 30,000 m

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.1

​

CER-1200TR Technical Characteristics

  • Length: 14.6 m

  • Diameter: 1.2 m

  • Diameter over fins: 3.6 m

  • Empty weight: 300 kg

  • Propellant weight: 10,000 kg

  • Payload weight: 1,000 kg​​​

  • Launch weight: 11,300 kg

  • Engine run time: 60 s

  • Apogee: 40,000 m

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.6

​

ARCA_CER-160_TR_AFB_17.jpg

 

Hypersonic Reentry Target Vehicle (RTV & MIRTV)

​​

Engineered to simulate hypersonic reentry threats deployed by ballistic missiles, the RTV and MIRTV platforms were developed as cost-effective target concepts for anti-ballistic training scenarios.

​

RTV (Reentry Target Vehicle)

  • Launch Architecture: Transported to altitude via a CER-1200RTV stage.

  • Flight Profile: Upon separation, a single pneumatic valve initiated vehicle spin stabilization and booster rocket engine ignition, accelerating the craft to hypersonic velocities.

  • Tunable Radar Signature: Radar Cross-Section (RCS) visibility was designed to be customized during manufacturing, ranging from ultra-low observable (stealth) to high radar reflectivity.

  • Propulsion: Non-explosive 30/70 (or 50/50) water - H2​O2​ liquid propellant.​

​

53139533348_ff9db8240b_ov.jpg

​​​

RTV Technical Characteristics

  • Length: 1.46 m

  • Diameter: 0.46 m

  • Empty weight: 100 kg

  • Propellant weight: 500 kg

  • Launch weight (including the second stage booster): 700 kg

  • Maximum speed: Mach 6.6

​

MIRTV_ARCA_Target_2.jpg

 

MIRTV (Multiple Independent Reentry Target Vehicle)

​

  • Launch Architecture: Transported via a CER-1200MIRTV system designed to deploy multiple independent reentry vehicles.

  • High Supersonic Acceleration: The MIRTV unit utilized a dedicated booster to accelerate during atmospheric reentry, achieving high supersonic speeds up to Mach 4.4.

  • Mission Profile: Developed to simulate complex MIRV attack scenarios for multi-target tracking and interception training.

  • Features: Zero onboard electronics, single-valve actuation for vehicle spin and engine start, and customizable radar visibility profiles.​

​

MIRTV Technical Characteristics

  • Length: 1.46 m

  • Diameter: 0.72 m

  • Empty weight: 3 x 100 kg

  • Propellant weight: 700 kg

  • Launch weight (including the second stage booster): 1,000 kg

  • Maximum speed: Mach 4.4

​


DARPA & US Army Research Contract: ArcaBoard Pro

 

  • Operational Objective: In 2017, ARCAspace was awarded a joint research contract by DARPA and the US Army to evaluate distributed electric ducted fan propulsion for non-lethal military applications, focusing on enhancing battlefield mobility, payload capacity, and tactical responsiveness.

  • Platform Scaling (ArcaBoard Pro): To meet rigorous military payload and duty-cycle requirements, ARCAspace engineered and constructed the ArcaBoard Pro, an expanded, heavy-lift variant featuring 52 independent Electric Ducted Fans (EDFs).

  • Key Innovations:

    • High-density distributed propulsion scaling across a 52-engine array.

    • Rapid deployment over complex, unpaved terrain and aquatic obstacles.

    • Non-lethal tactical personnel transport with multi-engine fault tolerance.

​


Defiant VTOL Drone

 

Platform Overview: An autonomous reconnaissance platform incorporating the distributed propulsion architecture and flight stabilization algorithms pioneered on the ArcaBoard platform.

Operational Scope: Engineered for long-endurance tactical surveillance and border monitoring, the Defiant VTOL system was developed as a concept platform to meet specialized operational requirements for an armed force in Asia.

​

bottom of page