Aerojet Solid Rocket Motor Propels Successful PAC-3 MSE Flight Test Intercept

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced today that it provided the advanced Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) propulsion that propelled Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's (LMMFC) successful PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Guided Test Flight – 1B (GTF-1B). This mission was the first successful guided flight test for the MSE interceptor where a target simulating a tactical ballistic missile was intercepted in the MSE extended battlespace.

The PAC-3 MSE spiral development program is being managed by the U.S. Army's Lower Tier Project Office (LTPO) in Huntsville, Ala. The program is significantly expanding the capability of the already battle-proven PAC-3 missile by giving the interceptor more range and maneuverability against faster and more sophisticated ballistic and cruise missiles. The MSE propulsion system is an advanced two-pulse motor that provides energy management as a key element of the expanded interceptor capability and is currently undergoing qualification at the Aerojet Camden, Ark. facility.

Launched from White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico, the PAC-3 MSE GTF-1B flight builds on a series of recent ground tests of MSE SRM performance and a successful CTF-B (Controlled Test Flight – B) flight test conducted in 2008.

Aerojet also provides 180 Attitude Control Motors (ACM's) used on each PAC-3 and PAC-3 MSE interceptor for fly-out maneuvering and hit-to-kill agility, and an advanced Lethality Enhancer (LE) for the MSE interceptor. "The advanced high-performance MSE pulse motor represents a significant capability upgrade to the battle-proven PAC-3 system," said Aerojet's Vice President for Tactical Programs, John Myers. "This GTF-1B success further validates the maturity of our pulse motor propulsion technology. Aerojet is pleased to be part of the Army LTPO and Lockheed Martin team in providing this noteworthy enhancement to our warfighters."

Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, defense and armaments markets. GenCorp is a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate segment that includes activities related to the entitlement, sale, and leasing of the company's excess real estate assets. Additional information about Aerojet and GenCorp can be obtained by visiting the companies' Web sites at http://www.Aerojet.com and http://www.GenCorp.com.

SOURCE Aerojet