The U.S. Navy selected Elkton, MD-based Northrop Grumman Corporation for a $04.3 million contract to develop a new 21-inch second-stage solid rocket motor (SSRM).
The Navy said the rocket motor was for its extended-range missile programs to deter and defeat fast-moving air, surface and hypersonic threats.
Officials with Northrop Grumman said the SSRM is a low-risk, rapidly developed design that will allow the Navy to field extended-range hypersonic defense capabilities. Northrop’s high-performance rocket motor is engineered to significantly extend range and speed across various missions, the company said, including air and surface warfare, land strike, and ballistic missile defense.
“Being chosen by the U.S. Navy is an honor and a testament to our rapid development capabilities, production capacity and leadership in advanced propulsion solutions,” Gordon LoPresti, senior director, propulsion systems and control, Northrop Grumman, said. “The successful development and demonstration of our SSRM in just 10 months showcases our unique, affordable, and versatile extended-range capabilities that will equip the U.S. Navy to excel in its defense and deterrence missions. We are eager and prepared to rapidly qualify and produce these motors in quantities to meet the needs of the US.”
The company said the Navy has also expressed interest in the potential deployment of its extended range propulsion technology across various platforms. The initial design and production of 60 units for testing and delivery will take place at the company’s Propulsion Innovation Center in Elkton, Md.