Aerojet Rocketdyne to Provide Propulsion System for Lockheed's Next Generation Interceptor

Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies, has been designated as the propulsion provider for the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program.

This decision follows MDA's selection of Lockheed Martin as the sole contractor for the NGI program from development through flight testing. The NGI initiative aims to bolster homeland missile defense capabilities, particularly against long-range ballistic missile threats posed by rogue nations. Lockheed Martin's win over Northrop Grumman reflects confidence in the NGI's accelerated timeline, targeting production and operational readiness by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2028.

Collaborating with Aerojet Rocketdyne on the NGI project, Lockheed Martin's efforts replace existing Ground-Based Midcourse Defense interceptors, which primarily defend against ballistic missile threats from nations like North Korea and Iran.