# Navy picks Northrop Grumman to develop a 21-inch second-stage rocket motor, $94.3M

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/stories/navy-picks-northrop-grumman-to-develop-a-21-inch-second-stage-rocket-21fc5931
Date: Jan 2026
About: [Northrop Grumman](https://technooptimist.io/companies/northrop-grumman.md) · [Solid rocket motor production ramp](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing/solid-rocket-motor-ramp.md)
Original source: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/01/us-navy-selects-northrop-grumman-for-second-stage-solid-rocket-motor-program/

The US Navy awarded Northrop $94.3 million to develop and qualify a new 21-inch second-stage solid rocket motor for its extended-range missiles, aimed at fast and hypersonic threats. Design and low-rate production of 60 units will happen at the new Propulsion Innovation Center in Elkton, Maryland. Northrop says it developed and demonstrated the motor in 10 months.

## Key facts

- $94.3M to develop and qualify a 21-inch second-stage solid rocket motor
- Low-rate initial production of 60 units at Elkton, Maryland
- Static-fire test on November 21, 2025, 10 months after development began
- Northrop reports more than one million solid rocket motors delivered to date

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