Anduril and Raytheon conduct static test of highly loaded grain solid rocket motor

Anduril Industries and RTX’s Raytheon business announced on 7 October 2025 that they have successfully conducted a static fire test of an advanced solid rocket motor featuring a highly loaded grain (HLG) configuration: a major advancement in propulsion technology for air-to-air weapon systems.

The test, made under contract to the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate, validated the performance of a heavywall solid rocket motor configured in a HLG configuration built by Anduril.

The HLG design was developed and built by Anduril using technology from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Raytheon’s Advanced Technology team provided crucial technical expertise and oversight throughout the development, design and execution phases of the test activities. The design enables significantly greater volumes of energetic propellant, delivering increased specific impulse and enhanced motor performance. These improvements translate directly into extended range and greater tactical advantage from US air-to-air missiles.

Raytheon has been working with domestic and international partners to enhance US-based rocket motor manufacturing capacity in response to the increasing global demand for munitions. By partnering with Anduril, Raytheon is expanding the defence technology ecosystem and addressing critical limitations in the rocket motor supply base.

“This test demonstrates more than just a technical achievement,” Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “It’s about building a more robust and adaptable supply base for solid rocket motors that can rapidly respond to emerging national security needs.”

For Anduril, meanwhile, the successful static fire testing reflects the company’s broader investment in restoring and expanding the US solid rocket motor industrial base. In August 2025 Anduril commissioned its full-scale solid rocket motor production facility in Mississippi. Backed by more than USD 75 million (EUR 64 million) in private investment, the facility will bring the much-needed scale, resiliency and innovation to allied solid rocket motor manufacturing.

“Designing and firing a highly loaded grain rocket motor is one of the most technically demanding tasks in the solid rocket motor industry,” said Neil Thurgood, Anduril Industries senior vice president. “Achieving this result highlights the strength of Anduril’s engineering team and demonstrates our ability to deliver high-performance propulsion solutions in a domain long defined by a small set of providers.”