Northrop Grumman has celebrated the expansion of solid rocket motor manufacturing facilities that will support increased production of the company’s GEM solid rocket boosters in Magna, Utah.
The infrastructure investment and expansion of solid rocket motor manufacturing will more than triple the company’s capacity to deliver its 63-inch in diameter Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM 63) solid rocket booster and the extended length variation (GEM 63XL), which will be critical to support the new contract award received from United Launch Alliance (ULA) in June.
The expansion will be completed in numerous phases, with all areas expected to be fully operational by 2025. In addition to new construction, modernization plans are underway to existing areas, including the purchase of cutting-edge manufacturing equipment, tooling and support equipment to streamline processes, enhance product delivery and increase capacity and output.
“We’re adding to our existing industry-leading facilities and modernizing through digital transformation, automation and process improvement to accelerate technical advancements for our customers,” said Wendy Williams, vice president, propulsion systems, Northrop Grumman. “This expansion will bring hundreds of new jobs to the area and increase our supplier base significantly.”