Aerojet [GY] said its boost motor passed the final qualification static test firing for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program.
The THAAD program is managed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and by prime contractor and systems integrator Lockheed Martin [LMT].
The motor was tested at Aerojet’s Sacramento, Calif., headquarters at the low-end of the operating temperature demonstrating its reliability in extreme cold weather conditions, the company said in an Aug. 26 statement.
In a test earlier this year, the first qualification motor was successfully static fired at the uppermost operating temperature.
The success of these two motor tests validates Aerojet’s technology in both low and high temperature extremes and provides the final qualification phase of the THAAD boost motor design and manufacturing processes.
The motors were manufactured at Aerojet headquarters in Sacramento, then delivered to the Army’s Redstone Technical Test Center (RTTC) in Huntsville, Ala., for assembly into the missile round. Both motors were subjected to extreme environment and dynamics testing and returned to Sacramento for the static fire.
“The successful static test demonstrates that Aerojet’s boost motors can withstand the harsh environment and dynamics required by customer specifications,” Chuck Wells, Aerojet’s THAAD program chief engineer, said.
“These tests clear the way for Aerojet to deliver qualified boost motors to the U.S. Army for fielding in 2009,” Pete Massey, executive director of Missile Defense Programs, said.
Aerojet boosters have a 100 percent mission success for the eight flight tests that have occurred during the development phase of the program.
This latest qualification test represents seven boosters that have successfully passed static test requirements.
The THAAD interceptor, launched by the Aerojet boost motors, uses hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets, and is the only weapon system capable of engaging threat ballistic missiles inside and outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.