HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, has opened a modernized facility where teams are hard at work supporting the LGM-35A Sentinel program.
LGM-35A Sentinel, formerly known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, will replace the nation’s current Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System and serve as a key deterrent to promote global security.
Now, with Aerojet Rocketdyne capital investment, a modernized facility to support Sentinel hardware fabrication is available for final assembly of the Sentinel Post Boost Propulsion System.
“Aerojet Rocketdyne’s team has a rich history of developing and delivering advanced propulsion systems for numerous defense programs,” said the senior director for Aerojet Rocketdyne’s THAAD and Strategic Systems division. “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.”
The new Sentinel Post Boost Assembly Room – the first of its kind – includes a 10,000 sq. ft. assembly space specifically configured to support post-boost assembly.
In addition to Sentinel’s Post Boost Propulsion System, Aerojet Rocketdyne is on contract to develop the third stage large solid rocket motor for the Sentinel program. The advanced large solid rocket motor is being manufactured by teams at several company locations.
The upgraded facility complements the company’s other recent new or modernized facilities including the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development facility to support large solid rocket motor production and the Advanced Manufacturing Facility specializing in inert component production for solid rocket motor cases.
Among other important program milestones, the company previously conducted the post boost propulsion system critical design review and cast the first stage 3 solid rocket motor, paving the way for fabrication, demonstration and testing of propulsion components prior to production. Aerojet Rocketdyne is part of the Northrop Grumman-led nationwide team producing the LGM-35A Sentinel system for the U.S. Air Force.
