A4MT - Weapons Trailer Hydraulic Heating

The U.S. Air Force seeks to enhance the operational reliability of the MHU-196 Weapons Hydraulic Trailer in cold-weather environments. This Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) effort aims to prototype, test, and validate a heating capability for the hydraulic system, which currently suffers performance degradation due to thickened fluid, stressed seals, and overburdened pumps in extreme cold. Interim solutions have proven insufficient, leading to delayed weapons loading, increased downtime, and higher maintenance costs, directly impacting sortie generation. The project, starting at TRL 4-5, will leverage existing feasibility work and commercial technologies to develop an integrated prototype that maintains hydraulic performance in sub-zero conditions, targeting TRL 7-8 by the end of Phase II. Deliverables include a demonstrated prototype, a test report, a certification roadmap, and a transition plan for fleet-wide implementation. Phase III will focus on full operational deployment, nuclear certification, and scaling across the MHU-196 fleet, with potential commercial applications in industries reliant on hydraulic systems in cold environments.