TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – Northrop Grumman Corporation, in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, completed the first qualification test of a stage-two solid rocket motor for the Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile at the Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex. The test was conducted in a vacuum chamber simulating flight conditions, allowing evaluation of the Thrust Vector Control system, which steers the missile.
In testing, engineers designed Sentinel in a digital model-based environment, which accelerates design, reduces costs, and minimizes the need to “bend metal” for each design enhancement. Engineers compare performance data from the test to predictions from our digital models, validating the motor performs as expected. Qualification tests are designed to assure the rocket motor meets the Air Force's exacting standards for quality and reliability.
Ben Davies, corporate vice president and president, Defense Systems, Northrop Grumman, said, “Developing the Sentinel Weapon System quickly is vital for national security. A digital-first approach helps us speed up the process and ensures the missile is mission-ready.”
Northrop Grumman and the Air Force have tested all three stages of the Sentinel missile. This test is the first of a series intended to validate digital models and finalize the stage-two rocket motor design. Each test will verify different motor components to reduce risk and refine the design. This test follows earlier tests of both stage-one and development-stage motors, providing critical data for continued progress in missile design, testing and support systems.
