Propulsion Systems

Building the world's largest and most advanced solid rocket motors. That's Defining Possible.

Missile Defense Expertise for a Secure Homeland

With over 60 years of expertise in flight-proven propulsion and advanced technologies, Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of solid rocket motors for U.S. strategic weapon systems, the civil space industry, and commercial launch services.

For defense programs, we produce propulsion systems for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptor, Trident II D5, Minuteman III, Sentinel strategic missiles, and emerging hypersonic systems. Our propulsion systems are also integral to our Pegasus®, Minotaur, and Antares™ rockets, as well as the United Launch Alliance Atlas V, Vulcan Centaur, and other commercial launch vehicles.

In the space sector, Northrop Grumman manufactures the five-segment solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the launch abort motor and attitude control motor for the Orion spacecraft.

Discover the strength and innovation behind Northrop Grumman’s solid rocket propulsion systems.

More about American Manufacturing at Northrop Grumman

From rockets that launch from below the sea to ground and air-launched rockets, our customers rely on our solid rocket motors to conduct their most important missions.

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Civil Motors

Leading provider of solid rocket propulsion for civil space pursuits, contributing to the most powerful, proven propulsion system in the world.

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Commercial Rocket Motors

Built on flight-proven heritage and continuously improved to meet new launch vehicle and payload demands at low-cost and high-reliability.

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Defense Products

Northrop Grumman solid rocket propulsion is an essential asset for national security, powering the nation’s triad and new tactical missile systems.

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Specialty Products

Northrop Grumman specialty products leverage rocket technology to provide the Department of Defense with vital tools our warfighters need.

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Space Launch

We built the world’s first privately-developed space launch vehicle. Since then, we've conducted nearly 100 space launch missions with our Pegasus®, Minotaur™ and Antares™ space launch vehicles, boosting hundreds of satellites into space.

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Energetic and Test Research

Test and Research Services specializes in custom testing of inert and energetic materials and components.

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Target Vehicles

Northrop Grumman is the leading provider of threat representative target vehicles used in the test and verification of the nation’s missile defense systems.

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Strategic Propulsion Systems

Northrop Grumman has provided strategic-grade motors to the U.S. military for six decades with a history of sustained success. The company has produced solid propulsion systems for the nation’s Trident II (D5), Minuteman III and LGM-35A Sentinel missiles, Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptor, new hypersonic systems and various missile defense target vehicles. Northrop Grumman has 100-percent propulsion success on strategic production motors.

Minuteman III

Minuteman III is a silo-based intercontinental ballistic missile with three solid-propellant stages and a fourth stage liquid-propellant rocket engine. It has been the prime land-based nuclear deterrent for the United States for more than 40 years, and plans are in place to ensure the Minuteman III continues this role past the year 2030.

Northrop Grumman and its legacy companies have been a U.S. Air Force industry partner since the very beginning of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) production, manufacturing solid rocket motor stages for Minuteman I, Minuteman II, Minuteman III and Peacekeeper. Northrop Grumman was responsible for refurbishment of all three Minuteman III solid-propellant stages as part of the Propulsion Replacement Program.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for sustaining Minuteman III propulsion under the Propulsion Subsystem Support Contract. Northrop Grumman leads a team of original equipment manufacturers and is responsible for all solid propulsion, liquid propulsion, ordnance, flight controls and batteries.

Minuteman III test launch demonstrates safe, reliable deterrent

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Trident II

Northrop Grumman manufactures solid propulsion boost motor systems for all three stages of the Trident II D5 missile under a contract from prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Northrop Grumman has a long history of producing solid-propulsion systems for submarine-launched missiles, beginning with the Polaris missile in the 1950s.

The Trident II is a three-stage, solid propellant, inertial-guided missile system that is the primary strategic weapons program in the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Ballistic Missile system.

With a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles, the D5 missile is launched under water from the Ohio class of nuclear-powered Trident submarines, each of which has 24 launch tubes. The Trident II was deployed in 1990 and is designed to be the primary U.S. strategic deterrent well into the 21st century.

Northrop Grumman Successfully Powers US Navy’s Trident II D5 Flight Tests

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Specialty Propulsion Products

Northrop Grumman Specialty Products leverage rocket technology to provide the Department of Defense with vital tools our warfighters need. These products include illuminating flares, aircraft countermeasures, and small warheads. These tools help our troops have the ability to see at night, avoid threats, and reduce collateral damage.

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Illuminating Flares Aircraft Countermeasures - Northrop Grumman

Illuminating Flares and Aircraft Countermeasures

Illuminating flares manufactured by Northrop Grumman are trusted around the world because of their excellent performance and reliability. Their advanced design makes them the product of choice for civil and military applications.

Northrop Grumman's advanced technology infrared countermeasures offer unparalleled aircraft protection. They can be readily adapted to any form factor or other customer requirement.

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Switchblade

AeroVironment's Switchblade provides the warfighter with a lightweight, man-portable, rapidly deployable, loitering munition for use against beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) targets.

This optically-guided, miniature tactical missile is a remotely-operated lethal platform that provides the user with real-time targeting information, to include video and GPS coordinates for information gathering and feature/object recognition. Additionally, these outputs allow the operator to exercise the system’s wave-off capability as the situation requires.

The air vehicle's small size, speed, and quiet motor make it difficult to detect, recognize, and track even at very close range. Switchblade is fully scalable and can be launched from a variety of air and ground platforms.

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Energeric Test Research Services - Northrop Grumman

Energetics and Test Research

Northrop Grumman Test and Research Services specializes in custom testing of inert and energetic materials and components ranging from ammunition and hand grenades to the largest solid rocket motors in the world. The company’s cost structure can support small commercial tests, large complex government contracts, and everything in-between.

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Facility Management and Operations

Northrop Grumman operates explosives manufacturing facilities with chemical processes and an industrial setting closely aligned to those at the Department of Energy (DOE) facilities. They have demonstrated a world-class safety and quality operating culture in extremely high-hazard environments through effective application of proven management processes and an engaged workforce. They have a demonstrated track record in operations turnarounds that have occurred as a part of corporate mergers and acquisitions, as well as in key government projects such as the Y-12/Pantex contract; operation of major Department of Defense facilities at Radford, VA; and the modernization of the Australian Mulwala Munitions Facility.