Orbital ATK Demonstrates Tactical Solid Rocket Motor Manufactured Through Additive Manufacturing
November 01 2017 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Test Marks First of Its Kind for 3-D Printed
Motor Components
Orbital ATK (NYSE:OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, announced it has successfully completed a series of
static test firings of a prototype tactical solid rocket motor
built with critical metal components fabricated by additive
manufacturing, commonly known as 3-D printing. These tests marked
the first industry demonstration of a 3-D printed complex rocket
nozzle and closure assembly in a tactical class rocket motor.
The motor was developed in partnership with the U.S. Army
Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center
(AMRDEC) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. It incorporates leading-edge
materials technologies designed to improve the performance and
safety of a next generation anti-tank missile system. The prototype
boost motors featured a high strength graphite epoxy composite
case, a reduced sensitivity minimum signature rocket propellant,
and 3-D printed components. Assembly and testing of the prototype
motors was conducted at Orbital ATK’s Tactical Propulsion and
Ordnance facility in Rocket Center, West Virginia.
The test firings successfully validated boost motor and
component performance across the full operational temperature range
from -26 degrees to +145 degrees Fahrenheit, closely matching
pre-test predictions and meeting all test objectives. The 3-D
printed single piece high strength steel rocket nozzle and closure
structure is expected to improve system affordability by
significantly reducing parts count and manufacturing complexity of
the current fielded system. In addition, the perforated rocket
motor igniter housing and nozzle weatherseal used in the prototype
tests were also additively manufactured.
“Orbital ATK has been very successful in taking additive
manufacturing out of the academic world and incorporating it into
our industrial design and operations,” said Pat Nolan, Vice
President and General Manager for Orbital ATK’s Missile Products
Division, part of the Defense Systems Group. “Our goal is not just
to create industry firsts, but to create practical, reliable
solutions that increase our products’ effectiveness while reducing
the time it takes to get them into the field.”
As part of the Army’s Missile Science and Technology Enterprise
objectives, Orbital ATK and AMRDEC developed the prototype motor to
demonstrate and mature new and emerging materials technologies to
enhance system effectiveness and achieve insensitive munitions
compliance for next generation weapons that will protect soldiers,
troops, civilians, and assets from greater threats in all
conditions. Orbital ATK expects to continue this work for the next
five years under the recently awarded Rocket Propulsion Technology
II research and development contract.
Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group is an industry leader in
providing innovative and affordable precision and strike weapons,
advanced propulsion and hypersonics, missile components across
air-, sea- and land-based systems, ammunition and related energetic
products.
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About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space,
defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both
as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products
include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile
products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons,
armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space
components and services; and advanced aerospace structures.
Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs
approximately 13,000 people across the U.S. and in several
international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
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