This article is published in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Apr 03, 2025. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
AVALON, Australia–Lockheed Martin is seeing signs that supply chain pressure on solid rocket motors is easing, but continues to look for ways to bolster production capacity globally.
“The state of the solid rocket motor availability is getting better ... but the supply is not sufficient yet,” says Tim Cahill, president of the company’s Missiles and Fire Control business.
Demand for solid rocket motors is booming in part because missile makers are aggressively ramping up output of all sorts of weapons. MBDA, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, among others, have all announced they are hiking output for weapons that use such motors.
The company last year struck partnership agreements with General Dynamics and Thales to help overcome shortages. “We are evaluating other partnerships at this time to further increase capacity,” Cahill said. “We are not done building up capacity worldwide.”
One of the steps the company has taken is to look for suppliers that Lockheed Martin could furnish motor design and casings and have them pour the actual motors.
Related Content
Comments