Solid Rocket Motors

An Innovation Imperative: Advancing the Next Generation of Solid Rocket Motors

Scott Alexander, President of Missile Solutions, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris, writes in Breaking Defense: L3Harris is building the factories of the future that will ensure our nation and our allies maintain the competitive edge.

Proven Propulsion. Fueled by Innovation.

For more than 80 years, L3Harris has provided reliable, innovative propulsion to protect our warfighters, our nation and allies. As the Trusted Disruptor, we are innovating processes and materials to increase production capacity and weapon range, speed and lethality.

Maximizing Production

We are moving the mission forward by modernizing our facilities to deliver more solid rocket motors faster and more affordably.

We’re building new manufacturing facilities across multiple sites and increasing capacity to support today’s surges and tomorrow’s needs.

Camden, AR – Center of Excellence for Solid Rocket Motors

In 2020, Aerojet Rocketdyne, prior to be acquired by L3Harris, opened its Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) facility in Camden, Arkansas. The state-of-the-art EMD facility expanded the company’s decades-long production of solid rocket motors in Camden, where the company currently produces more than 100,000 solid rocket motors a year from those that fit in the palm of your hand to motors the size of a small car. The EMD facility was specifically designed to serve as the developmental gateway for future large solid rocket motor product opportunities like Sentinel, hypersonic boosters, missile defense targets and small launch vehicles.

Huntsville, AL – Center of Excellence for Inert Component Manufacturing

Orange, VA – Center of Excellence for Propellant Research and Development (R&D)

Army soldier on battlefield with network connecting assets

Supporting the Army

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Modernizing for the Future

In 2023, Aerojet Rocketdyne, prior to being acquired by L3Harris, entered into a $215.6 million Cooperative Agreement with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) to expand and modernize AR’s facilities in Camden, Huntsville and Orange County, Virginia, where the company manufactures complex rocket propulsion systems.

Under the Cooperative Agreement, the company is building additional modernized facilities, purchasing advanced equipment, and automating manufacturing processes to support increased production demand focused on Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), Javelin, and Stinger missiles.

L3Harris is implementing digital transformation infrastructure and processes that align the company with DoD’s Digital Modernization Strategy to afford the Joint Force a competitive advantage in the modern battlespace.

Evolving Threats Require Proven Propulsion

Aerojet’s Jet-fuel Assisted Take Off technology propelled an overloaded aircraft into the air

The men and women of L3Harris have produced solid rocket motors for decades, supporting defense systems that have protected our warfighters, our nation and our allies.

L3Harris' legacy producing solid rocket motors began with the Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) motor, which provided extra boosting power for U.S. military planes during World War II.

During the 1950s and 1960s, L3Harris pioneered the development of solid- and liquid-fueled propulsion technology for U.S. missile and space programs.

From supporting America’s earliest solid-fueled strategic missiles, including the Minuteman I and Polaris, and providing propulsion for every U.S. Air Force Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) ICBM ever fielded, to powering tactical, air defense and missile defense systems protecting our nation and allies today, L3Harris has a strong legacy of delivering proven propulsion.

The L3Harris Difference - Delivering on Aerojet Rocketdyne

ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY FOR NEXT GENERATION MISSIONS

Aerojet Rocketdyne eSR-73 Motor Test Drone

L3Harris propulsion has powered our nation’s defense for decades, and we are leveraging that expertise to provide innovative, reliable and affordable propulsion to power next generation systems.

Our solid rocket motors incorporate lightweight graphite composite cases, advanced nozzles and high-energy, long-life propellants tailored to your mission.

Innovative Partnerships

Through innovative collaborations, including with NIOA in Australia and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division, we’re taking action to maximize solid rocket motor production.

Information graphic describing how solid rocket motors work

Featured News

Press release | 05. 22. 2025

L3Harris Marks Major Milestone for New Solid Rocket Motor ‘Factories of the Future’ in Virginia

L3Harris Technologies has broken ground on the construction of five new solid rocket motor facilities in Virginia that will boost production to support key national defense programs.