GKN Aerospace, Northrop Grumman collaborate on rocket motor

GKN Aerospace has been selected by Northrop Grumman to help develop components for a revolutionary solid rocket motor demonstrator. The first Solid Motor Annual Rocket Technology Demonstrator (SMART Demo) successfully tested a new motor developed in less than a year to showcase innovative technologies, including alternative manufacturing materials and processes.

SMART Demo shows the effective implementation of new solid rocket motor technologies, materials, and processes to reduce development time and costs and improve motor performance. The efforts include the design, development, build and test of a new solid rocket motor and associated tooling. GKN Aerospace’s support included additive manufacturing (AM) technology from its new Global Technology Centre in Fort Worth, Texas. Large-scale laser metal deposition with wire (LMD-w) process optimizes product weight, ensures efficient use of high-cost alloys, and significantly reduces lead times.

Underpinned by GKN Aerospace’s ground-breaking AM capability, the project demonstrated technologies that could reduce production lead times by up to 75%.

Shawn Black, president of GKN Aerospace's Defense Business, said, “Programs like this underscore the significant benefits additive manufacturing can bring, such as reducing production costs and lead times for mission-critical products that support our Armed Forces and the commercial aviation industry. We are committed to innovation and to rapidly advance this technology to support our customers and to provide greater resilience across the aerospace and defense industrial base.”

GKN Aerospace has been a pioneer in additive manufacturing for around two decades, with prominent research and technology centers in Sweden and the UK, as well as the U.S.

GKN Aerospace has been a supplier to Northrop Grumman for many years. In 2022 GKN Aerospace showcased its additive manufacturing leadership with an 8-foot titanium demonstrator, the largest AM component it had ever produced, in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corp.