SAN FRANCISCO — Valley Tech Systems, a firm recently acquired by Voyager Space, won a $94 million contract from Lockheed Martin to provide a solid propulsion subsystem for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Next Generation Interceptor (NGI).
Valley Tech Systems is developing the roll control subsystem to help stabilize the flight trajectory of NGI, a missile designed to defend the United States from intercontinental ballistic missiles. The subcontract announced Dec. 7 covers the technology development and risk reduction phase. Valley Tech Systems is scheduled to deliver a flight-qualified, production-ready propulsion subsystem to Lockheed Martin in time for NGI to be fielded in 2027.
“We are excited to provide our state-of-the-art controllable solid propulsion technology to Lockheed Martin for the Missile Defense Agency’s homeland missile defense mission,” said Mike O’Brien, Valley Tech Systems president, said in a statement.
Valley Tech Systems’ NGI technology is designed to regulate the use of solid propellant to achieve required levels of precision and long-duration operation, while offering superior reliability, safety and affordability. The company developed the technology under a series of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts awarded by the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Air Force with Lockheed Martin as its commercialization and technology transition partner.
Through additional SBIR contracts with the Air Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, Valley Tech Systems is developing derivative technology for a variety of applications.
“In transitioning from R&D to weapon system integration, we have upgraded our business systems and engineering processes to successfully achieve the stringent technical and quality program requirements of Lockheed Martin and the MDA,” said Russell Carlson, Valley Tech Systems, Aerospace Division vice president, said in a statement.
