The US Navy has selected Northrop Grumman to design and qualify a second-stage solid rocket motor (SSRM) in support of its extended-range missile programs.
Under a $94.3 million contract, Northrop Grumman will manufacture 60 SSRM units for testing and low-rate initial production at its Propulsion Innovation Center in Elkton, Maryland.
The 21-inch-diameter motor is intended to increase missile speed and range, supporting naval operations across air, surface, land-attack, and ballistic missile defense missions, including efforts to counter emerging hypersonic threats.
The Navy may also consider adopting the extended-range propulsion system across multiple weapon platforms.
This effort aligns with Northrop Grumman’s broader portfolio of advanced propulsion and hypersonic programs. The company plays a major role in US initiatives to counter hypersonic threats, including participation in the Missile Defense Agency’s Glide Phase Interceptor program and collaborative projects with Japan.
Northrop conducts propulsion development and production at six facilities across West Virginia, Utah, and Maryland, totaling approximately 10 million square feet of manufacturing space.
According to the company, production of small tactical solid rocket motors in West Virginia is being tripled, while output of larger motors in Utah is being doubled. In Maryland, manufacturing capacity is being expanded by 25 percent to support future high-demand programs, including air-breathing hypersonic propulsion systems.
Recent advances, such as hypersonic navigation technologies, further highlight Northrop Grumman’s role as a key partner in rapidly delivering next-generation missile and propulsion capabilities for the US government.
