Aerojet Solid Rocket Motor Propels Successful PAC-3 MSE Flight Test Intercept

Defense Professionals ^ | 4/14/2010 | Defense Professionals

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Aerojet, a GenCorp company, announced today that it provided the advanced Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) propulsion that propelled Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's (LMMFC) successful PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Guided Test Flight – 1B (GTF-1B). This mission was the first successful guided flight test for the MSE interceptor where a target simulating a tactical ballistic missile was intercepted in the MSE extended battlespace.

The PAC-3 MSE spiral development program is being managed by the U.S. Army's Lower Tier Project Office (LTPO) in Huntsville, Ala. The program is significantly expanding the capability of the already battle-proven PAC-3 missile by giving the interceptor more range and maneuverability against faster and more sophisticated ballistic and cruise missiles. The MSE propulsion system is an advanced two-pulse motor that provides energy management as a key element of the expanded interceptor capability and is currently undergoing qualification at the Aerojet Camden, Ark. facility.

Launched from White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico, the PAC-3 MSE GTF-1B flight builds on a series of recent ground tests of MSE SRM performance and a successful CTF-B (Controlled Test Flight – B) flight test conducted in 2008.

[Captain Beyond]

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[UCANSEE2]