Partner News
Aerojet Rocket Motors Propel Successful Standard Missile-3 Intercept
Written by: developer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 10, 2012) – Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced that it contributed to last night’s successful flight test of Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB where the missile intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile target. Aerojet’s MK 72 booster and MK 104 dual-thrust rocket motor provided the first and second stage propulsion while Aerojet’s Throttling Divert and Attitude Control System (TDACS) maneuvered the SM-3 Kinetic Warhead into the target for the final hit-to-kill impact.
The TDACS was incorporated into the SM-3 Block IB missile by Raytheon, along with other kinetic warhead improvements, to increase the SM-3 Block IB missile’s capability against current and emerging target threat sets. Aerojet incorporated its throttling solid rocket technology advancements into the TDACS design to provide increased mission flexibility to the warfighter while maintaining the safety features of solid propellant. Prior to this flight test, the TDACS successfully underwent a System Integration Test and three qualification hot fire tests.
The SM-3 Block IB is being developed as part of the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Phased Adaptive Approach. The missiles will be deployed on Aegis cruisers and destroyers, and also on land sites as part of the Aegis Ashore program to defend against short-to-intermediate range ballistic missile threats in the mid-course phase of flight. Raytheon is the prime contractor for the development of SM-3.
The successful test advances U.S. missile defense capabilities and highlights Aerojet’s leading role in providing reliable propulsion solutions for both MDA and U.S. Navy missions. “This successful flight test demonstration validates the TDACS Block IB configuration and is a critical milestone for Block IB development and future production,” said Aerojet’s Vice President of Missile Defense, Michael Bright.
Aerojet supports the next generation of sea- and land-based U.S. missile defense capabilities by providing reliable, low-risk propulsion technologies. In addition to the current production of MK 72 and MK 104 rocket motors and the SM-3 Block IB TDACS, Aerojet is developing the TDACS for SM-3 Block IIA, the planned missile variant upgrade to the current SM-3 Block IA and IB.
Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, defense and armaments markets. GenCorp is a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate segment that includes activities related to the entitlement, sale, and leasing of the company’s excess real estate assets. Additional information about Aerojet and GenCorp can be obtained by visiting the companies’ websites at http://www.Aerojet.com and http://www.GenCorp.com.
###
Contact:
Glenn Mahone, Aerojet, 202.302.9941
[email protected]
Kristin Conner, Aerojet, 916.355.2143
[email protected]