Northrop Grumman tests rocket motor with AM nozzle
Aerospace and defence technology company Northrop Grumman Corporation, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, USA, has successfully static test-fired its solid rocket motor, which features an additively manufactured primary nozzle. This marks the second such test within a year under the company’s Solid Motor Annual Rocket Technology (SMART) demonstrator.
As well as using Additive Manufacturing in the part itself, the technology was used to produce long-lead tooling components, part of Northrop Grumman’s overall goal of finding alternative processes, suppliers and materials able to help reduce supply chain bottlenecks. The company was also said to have integrated new robotic processing during the manufacturing process in an effort to increase reliability while reducing cost.
“Northrop Grumman’s second SMART Demo motor, and the innovations we pursue with the company-funded effort each year, are enabling us to move faster than ever,” stated Jim Kalberer, vice president, propulsion systems, Northrop Grumman. “We’ve successfully demonstrated industry-informed innovations that can accelerate production, strengthen supply chains and reduce solid rocket motor costs.”
SMART Demo intends to illustrate the effective implementation of new solid rocket motor technologies, materials and processes to reduce development time and costs and improve motor performance. The efforts include the design, development, building and testing of a new solid rocket motor, as well as its associated advanced tooling and technologies. The company anticipates that these new technologies will support development programmes as well as provide existing production programmes with learning and implementation opportunities to reduce production time and cost.
Northrop Grumman said it plans to execute SMART Demo annually as the company continues to invest in and advance solid rocket motor development and propulsion.
