Anduril Hails Investment Boost For Rocket Research

Defence contractor Anduril Industries has welcomed more than $10 million in additional Government funding as it seeks to develop rocket motors for the U.S. Navy.

As per a recent press statement, the firm has recently received a $14.3 million sum from the U.S. Department of Defense “under Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to expand the Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) industrial base.”

Anduril said the public funds would augment its $75 million private investment as it seeks to produce high-volume, low-cost SRMs for defence applications. This includes its existing work on programmes of record, including the U.S. Navy’s Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) programme.

In June 2024 Anduril won a $19 million contract to design, build, and test second stage rocket motors for the SM-6, a versatile projectile for use against surface, air, and hypersonic missile threats which could be deployed on up to 60 surface U.S. Navy vessels.

Anduril stated the new Government cash would be used “to develop and qualify next-generation SRMs that demonstrate its innovative manufacturing technologies, like bladeless speed-mixing, single-piece flow, and advanced manufacturing technologies.”

Testing and development of the SRMs will take place at Anduril’s office in Huntsville, Alabama, and at the Mississippi Solid Rocket Complex in McHenry, Mississippi.

Commenting on winning the SM-6 contract last year, Neil Thurgood, Senior Vice President at Anduril remarked: “As threats from near-peer and non-state adversaries become increasingly advanced and widespread, it is imperative that we expand the supply base for solid rocket motors to meet and deter the threat.” 

“We are thrilled to bring our advanced design, manufacturing, and material science approaches to the Navy’s SM-6 program, which remains a cornerstone of maritime deterrence against a range of threats.

“We look forward to delivering next-generation performance and large-scale producibility through our work on the program, and are proud to bring the resources, competition, and development velocity required.”

• You can read more details on the Anduril website