Investments facilitate 40% Increase in Production
Aerojet Rocketdyne has delivered its 830,000th attitude control motor (ACM) for the Patriot family of air defence missiles – including the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) – the company announced on 27 February.
“This milestone comes at a uniquely important time as the demand for key defense systems continues to increase […] Our investments to expand production for this critical system will ensure we are able to meet continued demand for our reliable propulsion,” commented CEO and President, Eileen P Drake. Investments in ACM production, including significant building upgrades, increased manufacturing space, improvements to automated production processes and new state-of-the-art equipment, such as laser welders, filament winders and grinders, have resulted in reduced labour hours, and fewer parts and motor transfers within the ACM building. This has allowed the site to move from two to three production lines, increasing ACM production by 40%.
Each Lockheed Martin PAC-3 MSE missile contains 180 egg-sized ACMs that fire explosively to refine the missile’s course and ensure impact. Of the 830,000 ACMs delivered since program inception, over 700,000 were produced at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Solid Rocket Motor Center of Excellence in Camden, AR. In addition to the Patriot ACMs, Aerojet Rocketdyne provides the PAC-3 MSE’s dual-pulse solid rocket motor and the lethality enhancer. Separate from company investment in ACM production, last year Camden opened a new 51,000ft2 facility for the PAC-3 MSE’s revolutionary dual-pulse motor, consolidating multiple manufacturing activities under one roof and adding advanced equipment, improving operational efficiency, increasing production capacity, reducing costs, and providing for even safer operations.
