SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a
GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced today that 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.
The motor was tested at Aerojet's Sacramento headquarters at the
low-end of the operating temperature demonstrating its reliability in
extreme cold weather conditions. 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.
These motors were manufactured at Aerojet's headquarters in Sacramento,
Calif. and then delivered to the U.S. 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," said Chuck Wells, Aerojet's
THAAD program chief engineer. "These tests clear the way for Aerojet to
deliver qualified boost motors to the U.S. Army for fielding in 2009," said
Pete Massey, executive director of Missile Defense Programs.
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, which is 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.
Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally
serving the missile and space propulsion, defense 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
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