Solid Rocket Motors

Aerojet Rocketdyne’s legacy producing solid rocket motors began with the Jet Assisted Take Off motor, which provided extra boosting power for U.S. military planes during World War II. During the 1950s and 1960s, the company pioneered the development of solid- and liquid-fueled propulsion technology for U.S. missile and space programs. America’s earliest solid-fueled strategic missiles, including the Minuteman I and Polaris, featured Aerojet Rocketdyne motors. The company has provided propulsion for every U.S. Air Force ICBM ever fielded.

In 2020, Aerojet Rocketdyne opened its Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) facility in Camden, Arkansas. The state-of-the-art EMD facility will expand the company’s decades-long production of solid rocket motors in Camden, where the company currently produces 75,000 solid rocket motors a year. The EMD facility was specifically designed to serve as the developmental gateway for future Aerojet Rocketdyne large solid rocket motor product opportunities like the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, hypersonics, missile defense targets, and small launch vehicles.

For 80 years the men and women of Aerojet Rocketdyne have produced solid rocket motors to support defense systems that have protected our warfighters, our nation, and our allies. Today we’re building solid rocket motors incorporating advanced technologies and materials, including next generation propellants and lightweight and robust motor cases, improving performance at lower costs.