T3: Triple Target Terminator’s Terminus Supersonic long Range Missile

DARPA awarded two competitive development contracts to Boeing and Raytheon in early 2011( Both $21.3 million each) , to conduct conceptual design and development of a multi-mission air/air and air/ground missile dubbed ‘Triple Target Terminator’ (T3).

As per DARPA, the T3 program seeks to develop a supersonic, long range missile that can engage enemy aircraft, cruise missiles, and surface-to-air missiles.

The speed, maneuverability, and network-centric capabilities of the Triple Target Terminator (T3) should significantly improve U.S. aircraft survivability and increase the number and variety of targets that could be destroyed on each sortie. The T3 missile should enable an aircraft to rapidly switch between air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities, and is designed to be carried internally by 5th generation aircraft (F-22 and F-35), as well as externally on 4th generation aircraft (F-15, F-16, and F-18).

The enabling technologies are: air-breathing propulsion, advanced data networking, multi-role guidance and control, and advanced thermal and power management. The program plans to culminate in a live-fire T3 missile demonstration against the three target types in the fall of 2013.