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Only Four Companies in US Produce Engines, and It Decides How Many GMLRS Missiles Go to Ukraine

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Newly-made GMLRS missiles get loaded for shipment at a Lockheed Martin factory / Open source photo
Newly-made GMLRS missiles get loaded for shipment at a Lockheed Martin factory / Open source photo

A few words on the industrial chain in the American defense and its impact on arms supplies

Lockheed Martin wants to acquire its own company that makes solid-fuel rocket engines, necessary for the production of GMLRS rockets – the weapon of critical importance for Ukraine. At the moment, the US-based corporation can only obtain rocket engines from Northrop Grumman, and therefore would like to have an alternative source of supply.

Moreover, if Lockheed Martin gets a second source of these engines, the provisions of GMLRS rockets to Ukraine will consequently grow in number as well, Defense One assumes.

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Currently, there are only 4 companies in the United States that can produce rocket engines. In particular, Northrop Grumman owns the Orbital ATK enterprise that was bought in 2018 and subsequently reformed; there is also Aerojet Rocketdyne, which was acquired by L3Harris Technologies this year.

Then, defense contractor Anduril announced in June 2023 it would buy Andranos, a solid rocket engine manufacturer, adding that "Anduril’s entrance to the market as a supplier will bring more resources and competition to an industry facing heavy consolidation."

As for Lockheed Martin, Defense One suggests the defense giant looks forward to acquiring X-Bow Systems. This company has recently received USD 64 mln from US Department of Defense in order to "expand manufacturing capacity and reduce the production cost of solid rocket motors used in hypersonic weapons," as written in a statement issued by Pentagon's Industrial Base Policy office.

Illustrative photo: GMLRS rocket launched
Illustrative photo: GMLRS rocket launched / Photo credit: Lockheed Martin

It is the competition among the big players of the American defense industry that stimulates Lockheed Martin to buy a rocket engine contractor of its own.

For example, the journalists note that after L3Harris Technologies purchased Aerojet Rocketdyne, the engines from this manufacturer became practically unavailable for the production of GMLRS rockets.

Therefore, Lockheed Martin management wants to bring "antifragility" into its supply chain by adding an alternative supplier of crucial components.

The entire arsenal of M270A1 and M142 HIMARS systems, including GMLRS rockets
The entire arsenal of M270A1 and M142 HIMARS systems, including GMLRS rockets / Open source infographics
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