Northrop Grumman’s second SMART Demo static test at the company’s Promontory, Utah, test facility successfully demonstrated several solid rocket motor innovations. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
PROMONTORY, Utah – Aug. 6, 2025 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully conducted its second full-scale static test fire of a new solid rocket motor developed in less than a year, as part of the company’s Solid Motor Annual Rocket Technology Demonstrator (SMART Demo).
The SMART Demo motor demonstrated several innovative technologies and alternate manufacturing materials and processes, including:
• Additive manufacturing was used to produce long-lead tooling components and the motor’s primary nozzle structure
• An improved, cost-effective and versatile solid rocket motor propellant, capable of operating over a wide temperature range to support various launch platforms and applications
• Alternative suppliers and new materials to supplement or replace other long-lead materials and ease supply chain bottlenecks
• New robotic processes during manufacturing to increase reliability while reducing cost and schedule
Expert:
Jim Kalberer, vice president, propulsion systems, Northrop Grumman: “Northrop Grumman’s second SMART Demo motor, and the innovations we pursue with the company-funded effort each year, are enabling us to move faster than ever. We’ve successfully demonstrated industry-informed innovations that can accelerate production, strengthen supply chains and reduce solid rocket motor costs.”
Details on SMART Demo:
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, building and testing of a new solid rocket motor, as well as its associated advanced tooling and technologies. These new technologies enable innovative development programs, providing existing production programs learning and implementation opportunities to reduce production time and cost.
Northrop Grumman plans to execute SMART Demo annually as the company continues to invest and advance in solid rocket motor development and propulsion. The technologies and processes demonstrated as part of SMART Demo could support large scale production of solid rocket motors applicable for the Golden Dome for America missile defense project.
SMART Demo expands and strengthens Northrop Grumman’s supplier base by streamlining the test and qualification of new materials, processes and alternate suppliers who manufacture critical materials using faster and more efficient processes.
With nearly 100,000 employees and over 30 million square feet of manufacturing space – more than 500 football fields – Northrop Grumman has the capacity, scale, and agility to drive innovation at unprecedented speeds. The company’s manufacturing approach isn’t just about flawless production – it was developed to accelerate and enhance the entire process from design and development to production and testing. The company has invested in U.S. infrastructure, R&D, its workforce, and supply chain to deliver the national security needs of today and for tomorrow.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.