The MUTANT is a modified HellFire missile with an articulated warhead that allows it to change direction in midair.
A week ago, in Colorado, the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium, a multitudinous meeting where some of the most cutting-edge technological advances applied to the military field were unveiled. He US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) was one of the speakers, and revealed that they were working on a missile project capable of change shape straight into the air: the relentless MUTANT.
MUTANT stands for Missile Utility Transformation via Articulated Nose Technology, but they evidently play on the word “mutant” to describe their amazing abilities. Historically missiles designed for long ranges have had to cut a lot in the technological section. If the target is far away, the less weight the missile has the betterso these models were limited to integrating small trajectory control systems in addition to the wings and the bodywork to give it aerodynamics. But technology has advanced, and that idea that was buried in the 1950s has been revived again: it is possible to manufacture a missile with high maneuverability and long range.
The MUTANT appears to be a normal missile to the naked eye, but the secret is in the “head”. The front of the missile is a miniature control tower, and is made up of compact electromagnetic motors, bearings, gears and structures. This combination gives you the ability to change direction in the air quicklyand thanks to the new materials used in its production, it can withstand temperatures over 900 degrees to survive at high speeds.
A missile that changes trajectory in seconds by moving its head
Essentially the only thing that differentiates the MUTANT from a HellFire missile is the steerable front module. Both the power and the explosive charge correspond to the missiles that the American Army has been using in the field. since 1987, and that have received dozens of updates and improvements. But their mission is not exactly the same, since while the HellFire had as objective eliminate ground and air combat vehicles (helicopters, fighters)the MUTANT has a new objective: other missiles.
Head movement can be programmed remotely or set reactively thanks to motion sensors. This last function is useful for it to work like “anti-missile missile” being able to correct its trajectory in the middle of the flight to crash into enemy projectiles before they hit. Intercept Chinese hypersonic missiles and Russia could be one of its many applications in the future.
for now the AFRL does not set a date for mass production of the MUTANTbut he believes that the tests could end around 2024. From then on, we will see if the US applies this technology to its military arsenal or not.