- Northrop Grumman completed a U.S. Navy-funded static fire test of a prototype Mk 72 solid rocket motor at its Elkton, Maryland facility.
- The Mk 72 program aims to improve manufacturability, lead times, and supply chain resilience while meeting current performance requirements.
Northrop Grumman has completed a successful static fire test of a prototype Mk 72 solid rocket motor, a step the company says supports efforts to deliver scalable propulsion systems for U.S. military programs.
According to a company statement dated Dec. 18, 2025, the test was conducted at Northrop Grumman’s advanced propulsion production facility in Elkton, Maryland. The event was funded by the U.S. Navy and focused on validating performance while addressing manufacturing and supply chain requirements tied to current and future propulsion demand.
Northrop Grumman said the Mk 72 effort is designed to meet existing performance requirements while improving manufacturability, lead times, and cost efficiency. The company described the program as part of a broader push to deliver new and second-source solid rocket motors more quickly by using lower-risk design approaches and updated qualification and production methods.
As noted by the company, the static test demonstrated alignment between its digital twin and performance modeling tools and measured motor performance data captured during the firing. Northrop Grumman said this approach is intended to reduce development risk and accelerate transition from design to production.
The company said the Mk 72 program also addressed manufacturability and supply chain challenges seen across the solid rocket motor industry. Tailored trade studies were used to identify production constraints, and multiple sources were established for critical components to improve resilience as demand increases.
“The successful Mk 72 static fire test is a testament to the proven solid rocket motor technologies Northrop Grumman has delivered for over seven decades,” said Gordon LoPresti, senior director of propulsion systems and controls at Northrop Grumman. “We rapidly developed this innovative Mk 72 solution that is tailorable to the U.S. Navy’s needs, is low-risk and can be produced at scale.”
Solid rocket motors remain a core component of U.S. missile systems, supporting air defense interceptors, tactical missiles, and space launch applications. The Navy and other services have placed growing emphasis on production capacity and supplier resilience as demand for precision weapons increases.
Northrop Grumman said it has made sustained investments to expand manufacturing capacity and modernize facilities to meet Department of War requirements. Over the past seven years, the company has invested more than $1 billion in advanced manufacturing facilities across the United States to increase solid rocket motor and missile component output.
That investment includes tripling capacity for tactical solid rocket motors at its West Virginia production facility. The company also plans to double production capacity at its large solid rocket motor facilities in Utah over the next five years.
According to Northrop Grumman, the company has delivered more than 1.3 million solid rocket motors over its 70-year history, supplying propulsion systems for a wide range of defense and space missions. The company positions itself as a long-term supplier capable of producing motors of varying sizes while adapting to changing program requirements.
The Elkton facility where the Mk 72 test was conducted plays a role in both production and workforce development. Northrop Grumman said its advanced and digital manufacturing capabilities support skilled technical jobs in the Maryland–Delaware–Pennsylvania region and contribute to partnerships with local colleges and training programs.
The Mk 72 test follows broader industry efforts to address constraints in the solid rocket motor supply chain, which has drawn attention from lawmakers and defense planners in recent years. Programs focused on second-source motors and expanded capacity are intended to reduce risk to weapons production schedules.
Northrop Grumman did not disclose when the Mk 72 motor could transition from prototype testing to broader production use, but company officials said the design approach is intended to support rapid scaling if required by the Navy.