Composite Motor Cases

Rocket Motor Cases provide the pressure shell for propellant as well as the structural shell for the missile. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems produces both metal and composite rocket motor cases. We have a long history and remains an industry leader in designing, analyzing, developing, testing and producing customer-loaded solid propellant rocket motor cases.

The solid rocket propulsion industry is one of the pioneer users of composite materials. Today, advances in carbon fiber technology and our high temperature resin offer even greater advantages in performance and cost effectiveness.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems works closely with our customers in the design, development and production of rocket motor cases, including the following components: rubber insulators, port fittings, integral attachment skirts and pressure chambers used for strategic, tactical and interceptor missile systems.

We have developed proprietary analysis processors and sand mandrel technology which provides our customers speed to solution and speed to production. Often, the sand mandrel tooling becomes the long-term manufacturing solution for complicated internal case configurations.

Platforms:

Arrow Booster & Kill Vehicle: The Arrow 3 is a U.S.-Israeli system designed to intercept medium-range ballistic missiles. Lincoln Operations is the design authority and manufacturer of the composite motor cases for both the booster and kill vehicle.

Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Insensitive Munition (GMLRS IM): Lincoln Operations is assisting in the design and qualification of a new composite rocket motor case that meets the stringent Insensitive Munitions requirements.

Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF): An Army development program required to provide field artillery with long-range and deep-strike capability. Lincoln Operations is assisting in the design and development of the composite rocket boost motor case.

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI), Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE): The PAC-3 MSE program is an air-defense, guided missile system with long-range, medium- to high-altitude, all-weather capabilities designed to kill Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBM), cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft.

Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) IIA Throttling Divert and Attitude Control System (TDACS): The IIA configuration is a U.S.-Japanese cooperative design that will be deployable on land as at sea, defend broader areas with a larger kinetic warhead. Lincoln Operations provides the composite motor case for the TDACS motor which provides boost for final positioning of the missile.