Ballistic, Aero-optics, & Materials Range
The Ballistic, Aero-optics, and Materials (BAM) Range at the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex is a national-scale, fully enclosed research, experimentation, and test facility. Specifically engineered to advance hypersonics, directed energy, and hypervelocity impact research, the BAM Range bridges the gap between lab-scale experiments and open-range testing.
Featuring a nominal 2.4m diameter enclosed range — ultimately to be extended to one kilometer in length — the BAM Range offers an unmatched test environment. Its controllable atmosphere and integrated instrumentation allow precise measurements under simulated weather conditions including turbulence, precipitation, and particulates, enabling researchers to explore real-world impacts in a repeatable, secure setting.
Advancing National Capability
The BAM Range addresses a critical national need by enabling testing and experimentation at scales and levels of realism not possible elsewhere in the United States. Its size, enclosure, and integrated diagnostics allow researchers to replicate and measure phenomena beyond the reach of traditional wind tunnels, outdoor ranges, or modeling alone.
Bridging lab-scale experiments and full-scale field testing, BAM accelerates development of next-generation hypersonics, directed energy, and materials systems. Its controlled, instrumented environment supports rapid iteration, reduces risk, and validates predictive models. Through these capabilities, BAM strengthens U.S. leadership, supporting the warfighter across air, ground, and space domains and fortifying our strategic advantage against emerging global threats.
Hypersonic Systems Testing
The BAM Range supports the evaluation of high-speed flight dynamics, thermal protection systems, and vehicle geometries under extreme conditions. Researchers can replicate plasma-induced communication effects and study weather-driven impacts on hypersonic vehicles before advancing to open-range testing.
Key Features
Directed Energy & Aero-Optics
The facility enables controlled testing of high-energy laser systems, with diagnostic tools that characterize beam propagation and correction in realistic weather conditions. BAM’s scale allows for validation of next-generation directed energy capabilities.
Key Features
Extreme Environment Materials & Structures
The BAM Range’s hypervelocity impact capabilities allow researchers to assess novel materials and structures under extreme strain rates. These studies inform the design of next-generation armor, defensive structures, and materials engineered for extreme operating environments.
Key Features
Modeling & Simulation
The BAM Range couples its extreme-scale experimental capabilities with advanced modeling and simulation to maximize insight, reduce risk, and accelerate development.
