SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a
GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, recently completed a successful full-duration
development test firing of its innovative Axial HAN Thruster for the
Missile Defense Agency and Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Net-Centric
Airborne Defense Element (NCADE) program.
NCADE is an air-launched weapon system designed to engage short- and
medium-range ballistic missiles in the boost and ascent phase of flight.
The system provides an interim or near-term solution to boost or ascent
phase threats, and is based on the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
(AMRAAM) that adds proven seeker technology from Raytheon.
Aerojet's spiral development, second-stage propulsion system uses an
advanced Hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) monopropellant thruster providing
higher performance and high-density packaging to ultimately power lighter,
higher-velocity missiles. HAN is less toxic and easier to handle than other
propellants and could eventually enable safe shipboard operation. The
technology signifies an important advancement in missile defense propulsion
technology and this success builds on thruster and propellant technology
that has been developed collaboratively between Aerojet and USAF Air Force
Research Laboratory.
Aerojet's recent fast-paced design, build and test program has provided
valuable risk reduction for the Axial Thruster and is widely recognized as
a key advancement in fielding non-toxic propulsion systems. The challenge
to introducing new rocket propellant is to produce stable and controllable
combustion. Aerojet achieved very stable combustion of HAN which will
enable higher performance and better packaging. "Aerojet overcame
significant technical challenges in this thruster development program,"
said Dick Bregard, Aerojet's vice president of Defense Programs. "This
testing opens a new range of possibilities for rocket engines using
non-toxic, high performance propellants. The monopropellant technology
offers significant simplification and higher performance compared to
existing systems," he said.
Aerojet's successful test program provides the hot fire data needed to
develop new flight-weight designs and fabricate next generation Axial and
Divert thrusters for NCADE, and a variety of other Missile Defense Agency
and potential space flight applications.
Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally
serving the missile and space propulsion, and armaments markets. GenCorp is
a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products
and systems with a real estate segment that includes activities related to
the entitlement, sale, and leasing of the company's excess real estate
assets. Additional information about Aerojet and GenCorp can be obtained by
visiting the companies' Web sites at http://www.Aerojet.com and
http://www.GenCorp.com.
SOURCE Aerojet
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Related links:
http://www.aerojet.com
http://www.GenCorp.com
CONTACT:
Glenn Mahone, +1-202-302-9941,
Glenn.Mahone@Aerojet.com, or Kristin Conner, +1-916-355-2143,
Kristin.Conner@Aerojet.com, both of Aerojet; or Linda Cutler of
GenCorp, +1-916-351-8650, Linda.Cutler@GenCorp.com
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