Military Aviation Works in Łódź (Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze nr 1 S.A. – WZL1) – subsydiary of Polish Armament Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa – PGZ) – has launched production elements for the first, test suborbital rocket. This is the next step of the project aiming to develop a three-stage suborbital rocket system.
The rocket will be able to carry the 40 kg (around 88 lbs) missiles into space (above the Kármán line, that is above 100 km a.s.l.). Apart from the Łódź company, the Wojskowy Instytut Techniczny Uzbrojenia (The Military Institute of Armament Technology) from Zielonka and Zakład Produkcji Specjalnej Gamrat Sp. z o.o. (Special Production Plant “GAMRAT” Ltd.) will participate in the project; however the WZL1 is the consortium leader. The project has been partially financed by the EU funds. The grant equals 23,6 mln PLN.
The board chairman and head manager of the Łódź company Marcin Nocuń emphasises that the space technology program opens new development and business opportunities for the WZL1. Thanks to the latest rocket control technology and algorithms, he adds, it will be possible, at least to some extent, to fill the gap in the carrier systems competence of the Polish space-aviation sector. The low cost racket developed by the company allows e.g. to conduct research at high altitudes and in the microgravity environment. Thanks to this WZL nr 1 will develop new competence and introduce an industry facility, which will allow them to develop future projects connected with the space technology and carrier systems. This will also grant them to enter the European Space Agency potential partners group, and it will allow them to counterpart in the higher level of technological complexity.
The project finale is to demonstrate the rocket launch during which it would cross the Kármán line. The project aims to develop the solid fuel engine with total impulse capacity exceeding 1 000 000 Ns. It may be used as a booster in the multy-level carrier rackets, including the orbital ones.
The project has been divided into two stages. First one is industrial research. During which, a variety of technologies and components will be tested needed for the rocket demonstrator development. In the second stage, the development work will be performed. This will result in a readymade design of the racket demonstrator. Next, after the military training ground tests and trials, all the system components will be tested. After its operation verification the rocket will be launched, and will carry the load above the Kármán line.
By: Defence Indystry News (picture: WZL1)