L3Harris Rocket Engine Production Soars Amid High Demand

Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies, has reported a significant increase in rocket engine production for the highly demanded GMLRS rockets due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the need to replenish U.S. Army stocks. According to a company executive, the monthly production rate has recently doubled.

The rise in demand for rocket engines is attributed to current global conflicts and the anticipation of future warfare needs. This aligns with a war doctrine referred to as "affordable mass," which emphasizes the use of large amounts of firepower. This surge in demand represents a positive development for L3Harris, particularly following their acquisition of Aerojet in December 2022. Aerojet Rocketdyne is responsible for producing approximately half of all rocket engines used by the U.S. Army.

The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, capable of traveling around 72 kilometers, have been successfully utilized in Ukraine, leading to an increase in orders from new customers. Aerojet Rocketdyne President Ross Niebergall stated, "GMLRS was a program for which we had limitless demand. In the last quarter, we doubled our average monthly production in 2023."

Although Aerojet has not disclosed specific production figures, Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for GMLRS, was producing around 4,600 units annually before ramping up production in 2022. Lockheed Martin's output is expected to rise to 10,000 units in 2024 and 14,000 units in 2025. Northrop Grumman also supplies engines for the GMLRS production line.

The increased demand has led to new companies entering the U.S. rocket engine manufacturing sector; however, these firms lack mass production capacity. Aerojet's facilities in Huntsville, Alabama, which have been under L3Harris ownership for over a year, have seen significant investments in advanced manufacturing equipment and quality control technologies. These investments have boosted the production of solid-fuel rocket motors, including those used in Javelin anti-tank missiles and GMLRS rockets.