Military Embedded Systems

Hypersonic-weapon piece of DARPA project tested by Aerojet Rocketdyne

News

June 21, 2021

Lisa Daigle

Assistant Managing Editor

Military Embedded Systems

Hypersonic-weapon piece of DARPA project tested by Aerojet Rocketdyne
Image: DARPA

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Missile-propulsion company Aerojet Rocketdyne reports a successful test of a full-scale advanced solid rocket motor as part of an ongoing series of trials to support Phase 2 of the Operational Fires (OpFires) program, an effort mounted by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a ground-launched tactical hypersonic weapon.

During the static test -- held during May 2021 at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, Aerojet Rocketdyne demonstrated its solid rocket motor, a technology that is aimed at enabling the OpFires program to provide the U.S. military with intermediate-range missile capability. The most recent test follows previous tests of booster test articles and some smaller-scale propulsion-system tests to prove the technology. 

DARPA's OpFires program is designed to use a highly mobile missile launcher to deliver a hypersonic boost-glide weapon capable of engaging high-value targets from standoff range through heavily contested airspace.

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Aerojet Rocketdyne

2001 Aerojet Road
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742-6418

U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

675 North Randolph Street
Arlington, VA 22203-2114