Raytheon, an RTX company, and Anduril announced on Tuesday they have successfully tested an advanced solid rocket motor.
Under a contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate the companies were able to demonstrate collaborative innovation in rocket motor development. The tests come as global demand for munitions increases. Raytheon said it has been working with domestic and international partners to enhance the U.S.-based rocket motor manufacturing capacity.
“This test demonstrates more than just a technical achievement,” Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon, said. “It’s about building a more robust and adaptable supply base for solid rocket motors that can rapidly respond to emerging national security needs.”
Raytheon said its partnership with Anduril will help it expand the defense technology ecosystem and address limitation in the rocket motor supply base. The companies said their collaboration shows how the Raytheon is embracing composable weapons strategy, to create more flexible and adaptable missile systems.
“Designing and firing a Highly Loaded Grain rocket motor is one of the most technically demanding tasks in the solid rocket motor industry,” LTG (ret.) Neil Thurgood, Senior Vice President, Anduril Industries, said. “Achieving this result highlights the strength of Anduril’s engineering team and demonstrates our ability to deliver high-performance propulsion solutions in a domain long defined by a small set of providers.”