What Aerojet Rocketdyne does

Aerojet Rocketdyne, founded as a combined entity in 2013 from the historic Aerojet and Rocketdyne divisions, designs and manufactures advanced propulsion and energetics systems for U.S. aerospace and defense customers. Acquired by L3Harris Technologies in July 2023 for $4.7 billion, it now operates as a propulsion segment within L3Harris. Core product lines include solid rocket motors (SRMs) for military missiles such as PAC-3, ATACMS, and THAAD; liquid rocket engines (RS-25 for NASA's Space Launch System and RL-10 for ULA's Vulcan Centaur); hypersonic propulsion components under the GAMMA-H additive-manufacturing initiative; and satellite thrusters. Manufacturing is anchored by an Inert Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Huntsville, Alabama (with 130,000+ sq ft of recent expansion and headcount up ~700% since 2017 to ~800 employees), the $1.3 billion Virginia Advanced Propulsion Facilities under development in Orange County, additional sites in Camden (AR), Los Angeles, Sacramento, Redmond, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Jonesborough, and Stennis Space Center, plus subsidiaries AR Coleman Aerospace and Aerojet Ordnance Tennessee.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through B2B channels — direct sales to the U.S. Department of Defense (Army, Navy, Air Force, Missile Defense Agency) and NASA, plus subcontracts to prime defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set via DoD procurement processes using fixed-price and cost-plus contracts under sole-source, limited-source, and competitive awards. The business model is supported by DoD Cooperative Agreement funding (notably a $215.6 million award in April 2023 to expand SRM capacity) and capacity investments of $1.3B+ at the Virginia facility. As of January 2026, L3Harris has agreed to divest 60% of the Space Propulsion and Power Systems business (RL-10 and satellite propulsion) to AE Industrial Partners for $845 million while retaining 40%, and is preparing a 2026 IPO of its Missile Solutions business with the Department of War as a $1 billion anchor investor.

Competitive positioning rests on a regulatory moat: only two suppliers — Aerojet Rocketdyne/L3Harris and Northrop Grumman — control the U.S. domestic solid rocket motor industrial base, with 6-8 year qualification barriers and Pentagon-mandated spending reinforcing incumbency. Capabilities include decades of propulsion heritage, classified hypersonic designs, and additive-manufacturing IP delivering 10x component build-time reduction and ~35% cost savings on select parts. The company holds the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award (2025) and competes in markets including satellite propulsion where the top three players (Northrop Grumman, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris) collectively control over 60% of manufacturing share.

Name

Aerojet Rocketdyne

Legal name

Aerojet Rocketdyne

Website

https://l3harris.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Aerojet Rocketdyne designs and manufactures solid rocket motors, liquid rocket engines, and hypersonic propulsion systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, and prime defense contractors. Now a segment of L3Harris Technologies, it serves as one of two dominant U.S. solid rocket motor suppliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Propulsion and Rocket Motors

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724)

akta.pro primary industry

Rocket Motors, Propellants & Warhead Integration (IMABAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guided Missile & Rocket Manufacturing (IMABAHAA), Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion (IMABAMAD), Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE), Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)

Keywords

• Solid rocket motors
• Missile defense propulsion
• Space launch engines
• Hypersonic propulsion
• Defense propulsion manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

El Segundo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Defense Contractor Subcontracts: Aerojet Rocketdyne operates as a subcontractor to prime defense contractors and directly to DoD agencies, providing propulsion systems under long-term production contracts. Revenue is generated through fixed-price and cost-plus contracts for military missile systems, space launch vehicles, and hypersonic weapons programs.
2. Space Propulsion Systems: Supply of rocket engines including RS-25 for NASA's SLS and RL-10 for ULA's Vulcan Centaur, supporting government space programs with revenue from both development and production contracts.
3. Cooperative Agreement Funding: DoD cooperative agreements to expand domestic manufacturing capacity, providing funding for capital investments in facilities and equipment while maintaining production for military requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Aerojet Rocketdyne designs, develops, and manufactures advanced rocket and missile propulsion systems for U.S. defense and civil space customers. Its product lines span solid rocket motors for military missiles, liquid-fueled engines (RS-25 for NASA's SLS, RL-10 for ULA Vulcan Centaur), hypersonic air-breathing propulsion, missile defense components (THAAD DACS, PAC-3 propulsion), tactical missile motors (ATACMS), and satellite/spacecraft propulsion. The company operates as a subcontractor to defense primes and a direct supplier to DoD and NASA under long-term production contracts.

Product overview

Aerojet Rocketdyne, acquired by L3Harris Technologies in July 2023 for $4.7 billion, is a defense aerospace company specializing in rocket and missile propulsion systems. The portfolio includes solid rocket motors for military missiles, liquid-fueled engines (RS-25 for NASA SLS, RL-10 for ULA Vulcan Centaur), PAC-3 propulsion for Patriot missile defense, THAAD divert and attitude control systems, and advanced hypersonic propulsion technologies. The company operates manufacturing facilities in multiple U.S. states including Arkansas, Alabama, California, Virginia, Washington, and Florida. Following the acquisition, L3Harris announced plans to divest a 60% stake in the space propulsion and power business to AE Industrial Partners while retaining solid-fueled military propulsion, with the historic Rocketdyne name to be revived for the divested division.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aerojet Rocketdyne Propulsion Systems: Advanced propulsion systems for aerospace and defense applications

Products and services

• THAAD Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) Propulsion system components for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ballistic missile defense system, providing divert and attitude control capabilities for exo-atmospheric hit-to-kill intercept missions. Used by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and integrated by Lockheed Martin.
• RS-25 Rocket Engine Human-rated liquid-fueled main engine for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) core stage. Four RS-25 engines generate over 2 million pounds of combined thrust to power Artemis lunar missions; built in collaboration with Boeing as SLS core stage prime.
• RL-10 Rocket Engine Liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen upper-stage engine used on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur and other launch vehicles, supporting government and commercial space launches with a heritage spanning approximately 60 years.
• Solid Rocket Motors (SRM) Core product line providing solid rocket motor propulsion for military missile systems across U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Missile Defense Agency programs. Expansion supported by a $215.6M DoD Cooperative Agreement for new facilities and process automation.
• PAC-3 Propulsion Systems Solid propulsion systems for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile defense interceptors, supporting U.S. Army air and missile defense. L3Harris is expanding Arkansas production capacity, backed by a $1B Department of War investment in the Missile Solutions business.
• Hypersonic Propulsion Systems Air-breathing and rocket-based propulsion for hypersonic weapons and vehicles, including GAMMA-H additive-manufactured components achieving a tenfold reduction in component build time. Supports delivery of hypersonic rocket motors to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.
• Satellite Propulsion Systems Thrusters and propulsion systems for satellites, including Hall thrusters and electric propulsion technologies for in-space maneuvering and station-keeping. Aerojet Rocketdyne/L3Harris is one of three companies (with Northrop Grumman and L3Harris) controlling over 60% of the satellite propulsion manufacturing market.
• ATACMS Rocket Motors Solid rocket motors for the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), a combat-proven long-range precision strike weapon. Backed by a $65M+ contract for continued ATACMS production.
• 3D-Printed Pogo Accumulator for NASA SLS Additively manufactured pogo accumulator component for NASA's SLS program, cutting production time by over 80% and component costs by approximately 35% on the Artemis program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tenfold reduction in hypersonic propulsion component build time through GAMMA-H additive manufacturing initiative
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Northrop GrummancoreOthers · 17 February 2026Industry analysis identifies only two dominant solid rocket motor manufacturers remaining in the U.S. - Northrop Grumman and Aerojet Rocketdyne/L3Harris - controlling the defense industrial base for critical missile propulsion.
• L3Harris TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023L3Harris acquired Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.7 billion in July 2023 to strengthen aerospace and defense position through advanced propulsion technologies for space and missile systems, creating near-inescapable moat due to Pentagon-mandated spending.
• U.S. Department of DefensecoreOthers · 14 April 2023DoD awarded $215.6 million Cooperative Agreement to expand domestic manufacturing of solid rocket motors, funding new facilities, advanced equipment, and process automation to increase production capacity for military missile systems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is the other dominant U.S. solid rocket motor manufacturer (via its propulsion systems heritage), directly competing with Aerojet Rocketdyne across military missile propulsion, boost motors, and space launch solid propulsion. Together they constitute the domestic SRM duopoly.
• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for THAAD and PAC-3, integrating Aerojet Rocketdyne propulsion into its missile defense portfolio. While a customer, it also competes in adjacent tactical missile and propulsion domains and sets the integration standards for defense propulsion subsystems.
• Raytheon (RTX): RTX (Raytheon) is a defense prime integrating missile propulsion across multiple interceptors and tactical missiles; it both consumes Aerojet Rocketdyne propulsion and competes in adjacent missile and propulsion categories, making it a closely linked prime/propulsion peer.
• Boeing Defense, Space & Security: Boeing builds the SLS core stage that houses Aerojet Rocketdyne's RS-25 engines, while also competing in launch vehicle and missile integration. The partnership/competition duality makes Boeing one of the closest comparables in space launch propulsion.

Emerging players

• SpaceX: SpaceX is an emerging commercial launch competitor developing in-house Raptor engines and reusable propulsion architectures that pressure traditional liquid engine suppliers like Aerojet Rocketdyne on cost and cadence, particularly for NASA and DoD launch contracts.
• Blue Origin: Blue Origin develops BE-3 and BE-4 engines for ULA Vulcan and New Glenn, competing with Aerojet Rocketdyne's RL-10 upper stage engine and challenging the liquid engine franchise on cost and reusability.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos develops tactical solid rocket motors and hypersonic propulsion systems, recently ordering 60 hypersonic rocket motors from Aerojet Rocketdyne. It is both a customer and an emerging peer in tactical SRM and hypersonic propulsion.
• Ursa Major: Ursa Major is an emerging U.S. solid rocket motor and propulsion manufacturer targeting tactical and small-launch markets, positioning itself as a potential future entrant to challenge the Aerojet-Northrop SRM duopoly.
• Firefly Aerospace: Firefly Aerospace develops Alpha and MLV launch vehicles with proprietary propulsion, representing an emerging competitor in the small-to-medium launch propulsion space adjacent to Aerojet Rocketdyne's RL-10 heritage.

Others

• Moog Inc. Moog supplies propulsion subsystems, valves, and thrust vector control components to missile and launch vehicle primes, making it a key enabling supplier to the same defense propulsion ecosystem in which Aerojet Rocketdyne operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AerojetGeneral
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCENNhz_O63zkKUHkj6bsIIQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/L3HarrisTechnologies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/l3harris-technologies
• Instagraminstagram.com/l3harristech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

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M&A5 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerojet Rocketdyne