Photo: Aerojet Rocketdyne

Aerojet Rocketdyne was awarded a contract worth up to nearly $19 million by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to mature Axial Upper Stage (AUS) component technologies and analytical tools to demonstrate component, material and architecture solutions to support future hypersonic development efforts.

This effort will focus on risk reduction of AUS technology that will support future development efforts being conducted by MDA’s Advanced Technology Program Executive Office in the area of hypersonic defense.

“Aerojet Rocketdyne has 25 years of success in the design, development and production of axial rocket motors and controllable propulsion systems on MDA, Navy and Army programs,” said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake. “Our leadership in both solid and liquid propulsion, along with a disciplined systems engineering approach make Aerojet Rocketdyne a great choice for maturing advanced hypersonic defense technology.”