Northrop Grumman has secured a $94.3 million US Navy contract to design, produce, and qualify a second-stage solid rocket motor that will enhance the performance of extended-range naval missile systems. The program reflects growing US investment in advanced propulsion to counter high-end threats.
As part of the award, Northrop will deliver 60 solid rocket motors for test and low-rate initial production, with work centered at the company’s Elkton, Maryland, Propulsion Innovation Center. Featuring a 21-inch diameter, the motor is engineered to increase missile speed, range, and mission flexibility, supporting operations across air, maritime, land, and missile defense domains, including emerging hypersonic defense missions.
The navy may extend the use of the propulsion system across multiple weapon platforms, offering a common, scalable solution for future missile upgrades. Such adaptability is increasingly important as the service seeks to field weapons capable of keeping pace with rapidly advancing adversary technologies.
The contract builds on Northrop Grumman’s extensive role in hypersonic and propulsion development, including participation in the Glide Phase Interceptor and international cooperative programs. The company is expanding capacity across its US manufacturing network, with significant increases in West Virginia, Utah, and Maryland, positioning Northrop as a key industrial partner in Washington’s push to rapidly deploy next-generation missile and hypersonic propulsion technologies.
