The US Army has contracted BAE Systems to produce additional MK90 rocket propellant grains for MK66 rocket motors, which are used to power the army's Hydra 70 rocket systems.
Valued at $69m, the contract requires the company to manufacture propellant grains that are used to propel rockets deployed on rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.
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Hydra 70 rocket systems are currently in service with the US military and several allied nations, BAE said in a statement.
BAE Systems Ordnance Systems vice-president and general manager Reed McPeak said: “Our employees take great pride in their work and in understanding the science behind producing superior performing propellants.
“As one of the army’s trusted munitions providers, we are committed to supplying propellants to enable the safe and reliable delivery of munitions that successfully fulfil important missions and protect our warfighters.”
The BAE-operated Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia will begin manufacturing the MK90 grains immediately, and continue through October 2018.
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By GlobalDataWith more than 300 employees, the Radford facility produces military-grade propellants.
The company started manufacturing MK 90 propellant grains in October 2012, with the first delivery occurring in August 2013.
To date, approximately 500,000 grain units have been delivered to the US Department of Defense.
Image: The MK90 propellant grains are manufactured at BAE-operated Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.
