The U.S. Army has selected Anduril Rocket Motor Systems to develop a new 4.75-inch solid rocket motor specifically designed for long-range precision rocket artillery. This announcement was made by Anduril Industries today.
Anduril Industries expanded into the solid rocket motor sector after acquiring Adranos in 2023, allowing the company to supply solid rocket motors to manufacturers of hypersonic weapons, missiles, and other propulsion systems. Despite the growth of the rocket motor industry, which now includes companies such as L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne, Northrop Grumman, and Nammo, there remains a shortage of solid rocket motors necessary to equip all missile systems.
The increase in missile production by the U.S. comes in response to military aid provided to Ukraine and to maintain sufficient stockpiles for future operational requirements. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, senior vice president at Anduril Industries, emphasized in a company blog post the urgency of boosting industry capacity. He stated that solid rocket motors (SRMs) are vital for munitions and hypersonic weapons and highlighted the need to replenish the currently depleted inventory.
Recently, Gen. James Rainey, Commander of the Army Futures Command, remarked on the necessity of the Army’s advanced weapon systems to penetrate enemy territories and engage air defenses. He also acknowledged the requirement for more economical rocket options that could be fired in large volumes.
Thurgood noted that Anduril’s solution aims to enhance missile capacity while also ensuring the range, effectiveness, and lethality necessary for contemporary battlefields. The 4.75-inch design is expected to enable the configuration of up to 30 guided rockets in a single pod of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, which would significantly improve the loadout capabilities of existing launchers.
Anduril claims to be among the first companies developing rocket motors in this particular configuration, focusing on meeting the Army’s demands for increased production volume and affordability. The company plans to manufacture and test these rocket motors using both traditional aluminized propellant and its innovative ALITEC fuel, which enhances munition range while using less energy.
Thurgood anticipates that SRMs powered by ALITEC fuel will achieve comparable ranges to much larger rocket motors, thus providing long-range strike capacity in a more compact and efficient design. Additionally, with a $14.3 million award under the Defense Production Act, Anduril is poised to improve its manufacturing methods utilizing advanced technology. An internal investment of $74 million will also be made to scale up production of SRMs at a reduced cost.
