Aerojet’s solid rocket motor in hot-fire test

Aerojet Rocketdyne has completed a successful hot-fire test of a controllable solid rocket motor for the US Air Force’s Demonstration and Validation Post Boost Study A programme.

The test was part of work to identify emerging propulsion concepts - specifically, post-boost propulsion systems - for strategic and missile defence systems.

Aerojet’s hot-fire test successfully demonstrated the increased capabilities of an advanced, controllable solid rocket motor system. According to the company, applying this technology could provide increased mission flexibility and capability in a future post boost propulsion system.

Tyler Evans, vice president of defense advanced programs at Aerojet Rocketdyne, said: ‘This programme allowed us to evaluate various advanced technology propulsion systems and select one of the most promising - a controllable solid rocket motor system for hardware demonstration testing.

‘Maturing this critical technology now will undoubtedly pay future dividends as our nation looks to modernise its strategic deterrent capabilities in the coming years.’