US Army asks Anduril for new small solid rocket motor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Anduril Industries has been selected by the U.S. Army to develop a new 4.75-inch solid rocket motor for long-range precision rocket artillery missions, the company said on Friday.

Demand for rocket motors is soaring worldwide because of wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Other militaries are also realizing that future conflicts will likely require many more rockets and missiles, as a part of a new warfighting doctrine dubbed "affordable mass" to describe the sheer volume of firepower involved.

The new solid rocket motor will potentially allow for up to 30 guided rockets to be loaded into a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) pod, which has seen heavy use in Ukraine. Currently a HIMARS launch pod can hold 6 GMLRS rockets or 1 ATACMS rocket.

As part of the program, Anduril said it will fabricate and test rocket motors using traditional aluminized propellant and its ALITEC fuel. Anduril believes its ALITEC propellant will increase rocket motor performance and improve range while reducing size, weight, and power demands.

Anduril said this is supported by a recent $14.3 million Defense Production Act award and an investment of $75 million by the company.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot)