L3Harris Technologies subsidiary Aerojet Rocketdyne has established a hardware center supporting the US Department of Defense’s LGM-35A Sentinel program.
Also called the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, the LGM-35A is being developed to replace the Minuteman III land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system, which has been in service since the 1970s.
LGM-35A will be integrated with the Pentagon’s nuclear triad upon completion and extend its capabilities through 2075.
Supporting Post Boost Propulsion System
The Sentinel program will leverage Rocketdyne’s facility to secure hardware fabrication for the final assembly of the Sentinel Post Boost Propulsion System.
It covers a 10,000-square-foot (930-square-meter) area that will be specialized for the assembly tasks.
The site will also support other Rocketdyne facilities focusing on engineering, manufacturing, and development to support separate projects on large solid rocket motors and inert motor case components.
“Aerojet Rocketdyne’s team has a rich history of developing and delivering advanced propulsion systems for numerous defense programs,” the company said.
“Our new Sentinel Post Boost Propulsion Assembly Area allows us to build on this heritage as we begin to deliver post-boost systems for the Sentinel program.”
Alongside the booster, Rocketdyne is engaged in a contract to produce the Sentinel program’s third-stage solid rocket motor.
The company has completed the post-boost propulsion system’s critical design review and casting of the first stage 3 solid rocket motor, preparing it for fabrication, tests, and demonstration before production.