Aerojet, a GenCorp
Inc. company, announced today a successful test of its variable
thrust solid rocket motor. All planned test objectives of the flight-weight
motor were met during the 50-second test.

Aerojet, working in conjunction with Raytheon’s Missile Systems Division,
is developing next-generation propulsion systems for tactical missiles.
Building on work for the U.S. Army, Navy and the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA), Aerojet’s objective is to demonstrate the technology
required to vary rocket motor thrust in response to commands from a missile
guidance system.

“Variable thrust solid rocket motors have many benefits for missile
designers. It will allow a single missile to both fly faster to short range
targets, as well as increase a missile’s maximum range if required,” said
Joe Abbate, Aerojet executive director, defense systems. “Aerojet’s variable
thrust technology will meet these requirements.”

A missile with a variable thrust rocket motor will be able to sprint to a
close threat target, slow down for dramatic range increase or for better
target sensing, speed up for an end-game sprint, or change speed in turns for
the best performance. Aerojet’s successful milestone test of the variable
thrust solid rocket motor begins a series of tests designed to validate the
performance and reliability of this new technology. Additional tests will be
conducted at both high and low temperature extremes, as well as at additional
thrust settings.

“We’re very excited about the potential of Aerojet’s variable thrust
rocket motors,” said Glen Sutton, program manager for Raytheon’s NetFires
program. “Technologies such as Aerojet’s will greatly improve the systems we
provide to the Army and the Objective Force.” Aerojet’s variable thrust
technology will support missile programs such as the Precision Attack Missile
(PAM) being developed by Raytheon for the DARPA/Army NetFires program, the
Army’s Common Modular Missile as well as other Army, Navy, and Airforce
tactical missile programs.

Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally
serving the missile and space propulsion, and defense and armaments markets.
GenCorp Inc. is a technology-based manufacturer with leading positions in
aerospace and defense, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. For more
information, please visit http://www.aerojet.com and http://www.gencorp.com .