Northrop Grumman Secures $94.3 Million U.S. Navy Contract for Extended-Range Solid Rocket Motor

WASHINGTON / ELKTON, Md. — Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $94.3 million contract by the U.S. Navy to develop and qualify a new 21-inch-diameter second-stage solid rocket motor (SSRM) designed to significantly extend the range and performance of the Navy’s future missile systems. The effort supports extended-range missile programs intended to deter and defeat fast-moving air, surface and hypersonic threats, according to a company press release.

Rapid Path to Extended-Range Hypersonic Defense

The newly funded SSRM program focuses on a low-risk, rapidly developed propulsion design that allows the Navy to accelerate the fielding of extended-range hypersonic defense capabilities in a cost-effective manner. Northrop Grumman stated that the 21-inch-diameter motor is engineered to deliver substantial gains in both range and speed, enhancing mission effectiveness across a wide spectrum of operations.

These missions include air warfare, surface warfare, land-attack strike missions, and ballistic missile defense, underscoring the Navy’s interest in a modular propulsion solution that can be adapted across multiple platforms and operational concepts. The service has also expressed interest in broader deployment of Northrop Grumman’s extended-range propulsion technologies across its future missile inventory.

Production and Testing at Elkton Facility

Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will continue detailed design work while initiating low-rate initial production of 60 SSRM units. These motors will be manufactured, tested, and delivered from the company’s Propulsion Innovation Center in Elkton, Maryland, a key hub for advanced solid rocket motor development.

The program’s schedule highlights the company’s emphasis on speed and manufacturability. Northrop Grumman confirmed that the SSRM concept has already been successfully developed and demonstrated within just 10 months, a timeline the company describes as a critical differentiator in meeting urgent defense requirements.

Industry Leadership in Advanced Propulsion

Commenting on the award, Gordon LoPresti, senior director of propulsion systems and control at Northrop Grumman, said the selection reflects the company’s ability to move quickly from concept to production while maintaining affordability and performance.

“Being chosen by the U.S. Navy is an honor and a testament to our rapid development capabilities, production capacity and leadership in advanced propulsion solutions,” LoPresti said. “The successful development and demonstration of our SSRM in just 10 months showcases our unique, affordable and versatile extended-range capabilities that will equip the U.S. Navy to excel in its defense and deterrence missions. We are eager and prepared to rapidly qualify and produce these motors in quantities to meet the needs of the U.S.”

Nearly $1 Billion Invested to Expand Rocket Motor Capacity

As the nation’s leading propulsion provider, Northrop Grumman continues to invest heavily in facilities, workforce, and manufacturing technologies to ensure it can deliver advanced solid rocket motors at scale. Since 2018, the company has invested nearly $1 billion to expand capacity and modernize capabilities across its weapons and missile component portfolio.

With decades of operational experience and more than one million solid rocket motors delivered, Northrop Grumman remains a trusted supplier of propulsion systems supporting national defense, payload delivery, and space exploration missions.

Expanding U.S. Manufacturing Footprint

Propulsion development and production activities are currently spread across six strategic sites in West Virginia, Utah, and Maryland, encompassing approximately 10 million square feet of manufacturing space. To meet rising demand, the company is tripling production capacity for small tactical solid rocket motors in West Virginia, doubling output for large SRMs in Utah, and increasing Maryland manufacturing capacity by 25 percent.

These expansions are designed to support future high-demand programs, including next-generation missile systems and air-breathing hypersonic propulsion solutions, while reinforcing a resilient U.S. defense industrial base.

Strategic Implications for the U.S. Navy

The $94.3 million SSRM contract reflects the Navy’s growing focus on longer-range, faster and more adaptable missile systems in response to evolving global threats. By leveraging a rapidly fieldable and scalable propulsion design, the service aims to close capability gaps in hypersonic and extended-range engagements while maintaining cost discipline and production flexibility.

For Northrop Grumman, the award further cements its role as a cornerstone supplier of advanced propulsion technologies, positioning the company at the center of the Navy’s future missile modernization efforts.