Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE:GY) company, announced today that its improved Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket motor propelled the successful Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control GMLRS+ flight test at White Sands Missile Range.
GMLRS+ is a Lockheed Martin internal research and development program designed to upgrade the combat-proven GMLRS Unitary system. Utilizing existing production tooling and the current GMLRS propellant formulation, Aerojet’s rocket motor demonstrated a significant increase in range, plus process improvements that will increase the affordability of the GMLRS rocket.
During the test, Aerojet’s rocket motor burned full duration and the GMLRS+ achieved the predicted increase in range. This flight test was preceded by successful static fire tests at Aerojet’s high-rate production facility in Camden, Ark.
“Aerojet is proud to be a key contributor to the long and successful history of the MLRS program starting in the 1970s,” said John Myers, Aerojet’s vice president for Tactical Systems. “We continue to focus and invest on improving operational capability and the affordability of the GMLRS rocket motor even after more than 15,000 deliveries. The GMLRS+ rocket motor can provide additional performance at a lower cost and will not require any investment in additional production capacity.”
The MLRS program is a five-nation international cooperative program with the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy. In addition, the system has been fielded to 11 additional nations. It has been one of the most successful development and production programs in U.S. acquisition history, being hailed as a model for design to cost and continual improvement models. Aerojet has been repeatedly recognized by the Department of Defense and industry as a leader in affordability during transition to production, including the GMLRS program.
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.
