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Aerojet Rocketdyne SM-3 Block IIA TDACS Completes Full System Hot Fire Testing

Written by: developer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 18, 2013) – Aerojet Rocketdyne, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced that it completed its first Block IIA Throttling Divert and Attitude Control System (TDACS) fully-integrated flight weight system hot fire test for the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA program. The SM-3 program is managed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and by prime contractor Raytheon Missile Systems.

This first of several SM-3 Block IIA TDACS development and qualification units was altitude tested at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Sacramento, Calif., headquarters. The unit was exposed to representative thermal and mechanical environmental extremes prior to the hot fire test. The success of this test validates that Aerojet Rocketdyne’s unique throttling solid propulsion technology can be successfully scaled up in size and operate in all expected environments.

“The SM-3 IIA TDACS builds on the successful design and lessons learned of the SM-3 IB TDACS,” said Michael Bright, vice president of Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Missile Defense and Strategic Systems Business Unit. “Because of the SM-3 IB experience, we have a more efficient design process and improved testing efficiency, and will be able to move into production faster. Reaching this test milestone on schedule is an important validation of our approach.”

“This successful test reflects the significant engineering discipline and technical excellence used to develop Aerojet Rocketdyne’s TDACS products,” said Marvin Young, vice president of Engineering.
The SM-3 Block IIA TDACS is being developed at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Sacramento facility, where the SM-3 Block IB TDACS also is produced.

SM-3 Block IIA, developed as an SM-3 Cooperative Development Program with Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD), as part of MDA’s Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Phased Adaptive Approach, uses hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets, and is designed to engage threat ballistic missiles outside of the Earth’s atmosphere during the mid-course phase of an incoming missile.

About Aerojet Rocketdyne
Aerojet Rocketdyne is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader providing propulsion and energetics to the space, missile defense, strategic, tactical missile and armaments sectors for both domestic and international markets. Find out more about the new Aerojet Rocketdyne at http://www.Rocket.com.

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Contact:
Glenn Mahone, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 202.302.9941
[email protected] 
Kristin Conner, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 916.355.2143
[email protected]


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