L3Harris Technologies has announced plans to build a new large solid rocket motor production campus at the company’s site in Camden, Arkansas.
More than 130,000 square feet (12,000 square meters) of new manufacturing and office space will be added to the existing 2,000-acre (8,094-hectare) site, which employs about 1,300 people.
Spanning 110 acres (44.5 hectares), the new campus will include over 20 buildings focused on high-speed, adaptable production of large solid rocket motors for missile defense, interceptors, and hypersonic systems.
Flexible, program-agnostic equipment will allow for quick adjustments in output to match evolving operational demands.
As part of a nearly half-billion-dollar investment across its manufacturing facilities, L3Harris aims to expand rocket motor production capacity to meet rising demand, including for missile defense systems such as the Golden Dome.
Solid Rocket Motors
Solid rocket motors utilize a solid mixture of fuel, oxidizer, and binder that is hardened to a dense consistency.
Once ignited by an electric signal, the motor burns internally, generating hot gases that produce thrust.
The systems contain both fuel and oxidizer within the propellant, allowing operation in space without the need for external oxygen.
As the hot gases expand and exit through the nozzle, thermal energy is converted into kinetic energy, creating forward motion.
Designed with minimal structural components, most of the motor’s mass is propellant, making it efficient and capable of delivering high thrust at a lower cost.
The system can be launched from land, sea, air, or space platforms, allowing for the lifting of heavy payloads.
L3Harris has manufactured large solid rocket motors for US defense programs for over 60 years, including for the US Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles.
