Raytheon, an RTX business, and Northrop Grumman announced the successful completion of four critical tests of flight-ready Highly Loaded Grain (HLG) solid rocket motors developed for the U.S. Army’s Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) program. These advanced propulsion systems are designed to significantly enhance the performance of Raytheon’s NGSRI by delivering longer burn durations and higher energy output than traditional solid rocket motors, ultimately enabling greater range and combat effectiveness.
Engineered to respond to the Army’s evolving air defense needs, the NGSRI is a state-of-the-art missile interceptor built for speed, agility, and versatility. It can be launched from a variety of platforms, including tripods, vehicles, and shoulder-fired systems, making it adaptable for both frontline and mobile defense scenarios.
In the most recent phase of development, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman successfully conducted three static motor firings across varied environmental conditions, followed by a live ballistic flight test. Additional flight trials are scheduled in the coming months to further validate the system’s readiness for deployment.
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“These tests demonstrate our ability to rapidly develop this transformational air defense capability, which can defeat a variety of airborne threats at far greater ranges than legacy systems,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “Alongside Northrop Grumman, Raytheon is delivering cutting-edge technology to protect our warfighters.”
The breakthrough propulsion system is the result of a rapid development cycle driven by collaboration at Northrop Grumman’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia. Remarkably, the program progressed from concept validation to a successful flight test in under six months—well ahead of industry norms.
“Northrop Grumman continues to push the boundaries on next-generation propulsion technology, and we’re excited to work with Raytheon to bring this advanced solution for warfighters at record pace,” said Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager, Weapon Systems, Northrop Grumman. “Developed and demonstrated in five months, this innovative HLG motor provides increased speed, range, effectiveness and mission flexibility in a very small package.”