US Navy Taps Northrop Grumman for $94M Missile Motor to Boost Hypersonic Defense
The US Navy has tapped Northrop Grumman to develop and qualify a second-stage solid rocket motor (SSRM) for its extended-range missile programs.
Under the $94.3-million contract, Northrop will produce 60 units for testing and low-rate initial production at its Propulsion Innovation Center in Elkton, Maryland.
With a 21-inch (53-centimeter) diameter, the SSRM is designed to increase missile speed and range, supporting navy missions across air, surface, land, and ballistic missile defense, including efforts to counter hypersonic threats.
In addition, the navy could potentially adopt the extended-range propulsion system across various platforms.
According to Gordon LoPresti, senior director of propulsion systems and control at Northrop, the project demonstrates the company’s ability to deliver rapid, affordable, and versatile propulsion solutions, with development completed in just 10 months.
This move is one of the navy’s methods to improve its ability to engage fast-evolving threats, including hypersonic missiles, without waiting for entirely new interceptor designs.
Northrop’s Hypersonic Portfolio
Northrop Grumman’s work on the SSRM fits into a broader portfolio of hypersonic and advanced propulsion programs.
The company is heavily involved in US efforts to counter hypersonic threats, including the Glide Phase Interceptor program led by the Missile Defense Agency and cooperative projects with Japan.
It conducts propulsion work at six facilities across West Virginia, Utah, and Maryland, covering a total of 10 million square feet (929,000 square meters).
Production of small tactical solid rocket motors in West Virginia is being tripled, while larger motors in Utah are seeing a twofold increase, according to the company.
In Maryland, manufacturing capacity is being expanded by 25 percent to support upcoming high-demand programs, including air-breathing hypersonic propulsion systems.
Recent developments — including hypersonic navigation technology — underscore Northrop’s role as a key partner for Washington in rapidly fielding next-generation missile and propulsion capabilities.
