The U.S. Army announced that it has selected Anduril Rocket Motor Systems to develop a new 4,75-inch solid-fuel rocket motor for long-range precision rocket artillery. The move is a strategic move to address gaps in the U.S. weapons supply chain and increase firepower for future conflicts. Anduril Industries entered the solid rocket motor manufacturing business with the acquisition of Adranos in 2023 and has since supplied solid rocket motors for hypersonic weapons, missiles, and other propulsion systems.
Rocket Engine Industry and Production Capacity
While the rocket engine industry has grown in recent years, there are still not enough solid-fuel rocket engines to equip all missiles. The US is trying to increase missile production in order to resupply its own stockpile after providing weapons to Ukraine. The US Army is focusing on increasing its missile production capacity to prepare for possible future military scenarios.
“Ongoing global conflicts have highlighted the urgency of expanding industrial capacity,” said retired Army Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, senior vice president of Anduril Industries, citing growing demand for rocket engines and hypersonic weapons. Scaling up production of these products and replenishing depleted resources in the supply chain is critical, Thurgood said.
The Army's Needs and Anduril's Solution
Gen. James Rainey, commander of the Army Futures Command, said long-range, precision weapons systems must be able to penetrate deep into enemy territory and be effective against air defenses. But he added that they also require “cheap rocket canisters that we can fire by the hundreds.” At that point, Anduril’s rocket engines promise to meet the Army’s needs by providing range and lethality while also increasing magazine capacity.
The 4,75-inch rockets allow configurations of up to 30 guided rockets in High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) pods, which can significantly increase payloads within current launcher constraints, Thurgood said. This development is seen as a major step toward meeting the Army’s increasing need for volume and affordability.
ALITEC Fuel and Efficiency Improvements
Anduril will use both traditional aluminized propellants and advanced ALITEC fuel to build and test rocket engines. ALITEC offers more efficient range in a smaller package, while also consuming less power. Thurgood explained that the ALITEC-powered rocket engines will achieve similar ranges to larger rocket engines, and the design will be smaller and more efficient.
The company is also looking to improve its manufacturing methods with a $14,3 million Defense Production Act award that will increase Anduril’s production capacity, allowing it to produce large quantities of rocket engines at lower cost.
Anduril Industries’ new rocket engine development project is of critical importance to the U.S. Army. The company’s solutions offer significant advantages in both efficiency and production capacity, while also having great potential to support effective weapons systems on the battlefield. This development will strengthen U.S. preparedness for global conflicts and could herald a new era in the defense industry.
