A major test facility for developing hypersonic and directed energy weapons systems has opened in Texas, USA, significantly upgrading the country’s military research infrastructure.
The Ballistic Aero-Optics and Materials (BAM) range, is located at Texas A&M University’s RELLIS Campus and is described as the country’s largest and most advanced enclosed testing range for laser and hypersonic weapons innovation. The US$65 million facility was funded through contributions from the US Army, NASA, the State of Texas and Texas A&M University System.
During an opening ceremony facility last month Lt. Gen. Miles Brown, deputy commanding general of US Army Futures Command praised the facility.
“We want to bring hope to our allies and fear to our enemies, and we can’t do that without overmatch,” Brown said. “The BAM is a perfect example of product innovation to overmatch potential adversaries in emerging technologies.”
The BAM range addresses a gap in US research capabilities between laboratory wind tunnels and open-air testing ranges. With an eight-foot diameter and half-kilometer length, the BAM provides a more realistic testing environment than laboratory facilities while allowing for advanced diagnostic tools unavailable at outdoor ranges.
Unlike military base testing that can take months to arrange and costs tens of millions per test, the BAM is designed to host multiple tests weekly at significantly lower costs. This capability aims to accelerate the development of materials that can withstand hypervelocity impacts and advance hypersonic technologies.
Although conceived through a partnership between Texas A&M and US Army Futures Command, the facility will support national security testing for various government and industry partners and space exploration research. Texas A&M researchers have already begun conducting directed energy testing at the facility, with hypersonic experimentation now commencing.
John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M System said, “It’s a research and test center like no other in the United States. The BAM represents the best of Texas – our unmatched commitment to serving and protecting our beloved nation.”
Plans are underway to extend the facility to a full kilometer in length in coming years, further enhancing its testing capabilities for next-generation defense technologies.
