US Navy Taps Anduril to Design, Test Rocket Motors for SM-6 Missiles

Anduril Industries announced that it will be designing, building and testing rocket motors for a highly versatile missile being developed by the U.S. Navy.

Under the $19 million contract, Anduril will support the military branch in demonstrating the performance of a high-performance, 21-inch-diameter second-stage rocket motor for a Standard Missile-6 variant. The Navy plans to acquire hundreds of SM-6 variants in the future as the technology becomes the foundation of maritime missile defense.

The next-generation solid rocket motors will be developed and tested in Huntsville, Alabama, and the Mississippi Solid Rocket Complex in McHenry, Mississippi, Anduril said.

Retired Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, senior vice president at Anduril, said that the new contract allows the company to demonstrate its advanced design, manufacturing and material science capabilities as it supports the Navy in developing the SM-6 missiles as the next-generation cornerstone of maritime deterrence.

The two organizations have also started working on a large autonomous underwater vehicle for use in contested environments. Anduril won the contract in February after it demonstrated the Dive-LD AUV’s capabilities for long-range deployment during a “swim-off” competition.