The Department of War recently awarded two companies $33.5 million in Defense Production Act Title III grants to expand the solid rocket motor industrial base.
The grants also aim to boost supply chain resiliency and increase domestic production in strategic priority areas.
“To meet the evolving threats of tomorrow, we must expand our capacity to produce the critical subcomponents that underpin our munitions systems,” Michael Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said. “By advancing resiliency in the solid rocket motor supply chain, we’re not only strengthening our defense industrial base but also helping to ensure a reliable and scalable supply of the materials and components crucial to our national security.”
Nebraska-based General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems was awarded $20.9 million to increase nozzle production capacity and capability. The investment supports tape wrapping and high-rate material handling technologies. The technologies will focus on throughput and quality for nozzle fabrication.
New York-based Americarb, Inc. was awarded $12.6 million to develop a solution for converting woven rayon fabric into carbonized rayon phenolic, an ablative material used for insulating rocket nozzles. The company will create a prototype process and demonstrate its production to enhance Department of Defense supply chain resilience.