One year ago, as Ukraine’s military defended its territory against Russian missile strikes and the United States sought to replenish its own stockpiles, the demand for solid rocket motors surged significantly. Aerojet Rocketdyne, a vital national asset, has been the backbone of tactical air defense and missile defense systems for the U.S. and its allies for decades. With a rich legacy in producing this essential propulsion technology, the company required support to maximize its capabilities.
At L3Harris, we recognized an opportunity to strategically leverage our resources—both financial and operational—to bolster this esteemed propulsion provider. We assured our government and industry partners that our acquisition would ensure dependable access to the critical technologies essential for U.S. security and that of our allies.
We asserted that this acquisition would not only enhance Aerojet Rocketdyne but also benefit the broader defense industrial base and, ultimately, the nation.
We are now fulfilling that promise. In the past year, we have made significant strides in improving business operations, and our customers have taken notice. Production of solid rocket motors has increased, and on-time deliveries have improved substantially. We have reduced late deliveries by nearly half and anticipate further reductions in the backlog in the coming months. For several key programs, we have transitioned from delayed to ahead-of-schedule deliveries.
This is just the beginning. We are actively pursuing various initiatives aimed at further strengthening the defense industrial base and solidifying Aerojet Rocketdyne’s position as a leader in the solid rocket motor sector.
By harnessing over a century of combined expertise from the talented workforces at L3Harris and Aerojet Rocketdyne, we have ramped up internal investment in Aerojet Rocketdyne by 40 percent year-over-year.
Recognizing the vital role of sub-tier suppliers in meeting current demand and rapidly scaling operations, we have undertaken significant efforts to support the companies that supply key components for solid rocket motors. L3Harris has invested over $25 million in capital for its suppliers to modernize facilities, expand workforces, and improve tooling. Moreover, we are expanding our supplier network to qualify additional sources for crucial components, promoting diversity and resilience across solid rocket motor production. A robust supply chain is beneficial not just for business but for national security as well.
We are complementing these internal actions with investments from our industry and government partners, along with implementing substantial process improvements and modernization efforts that fuel next-generation innovation and operational excellence.
One notable example of our progress is the “Factories of the Future” initiative, which is revolutionizing our key production sites through a Center of Excellence model tailored to each facility’s expertise in Huntsville (AL), Camden (AR), and Orange County (VA). We are building and upgrading over a dozen manufacturing locations across these sites, enhancing capacity to meet significant surges in demand—whether for ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East or emerging threats in the INDOPACOM region. Simultaneously, we are expanding our capacity to support large-scale production of solid rocket motors for hypersonic, strategic, and missile defense programs.
Our newly upgraded facilities integrate advanced automation and robotics to improve safety and maximize efficiency, streamlining the manufacturing process. By leveraging 3D modeling for rapid prototyping, we are modernizing product development and engineering, incorporating digital transformation throughout our manufacturing workflow. This approach enhances our capability to share product data efficiently, facilitating informed, data-driven, and expedited decision-making.
While we acknowledge that many improvements remain ahead, we are confident that we have responded to the Department of Defense’s call for heightened competition. We can now explore the art of the possible—not only by optimizing manufacturing processes and reducing costs for our customers but also by continuing to build on our strong legacy of innovation to lead the way in next-generation propulsion development.
As the industry’s Trusted Disruptor, we must act swiftly and decisively—ensuring a stronger Aerojet Rocketdyne that powers U.S. and allied defenses today and in the future.
Success is imperative—the world is counting on it.
