U.S. Navy Partners with X-Bow Systems to Enhance Rocket Motor Production Capabilities

U.S. Navy Collaborates with X-Bow Systems

On December 3, 2024, X-Bow Systems Inc, a frontrunner in the production of solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technology, announced a significant partnership with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD). This collaboration has culminated in contracts worth a total of $60 million, targeting the design, development, and long-lead procurement necessary to strengthen the U.S. energetics industrial base.

The $60 million contract marks the initial phase of a broader initiative to modernize and automate the energetics manufacturing landscape, which plays a crucial role in supporting U.S. military operations. With a performance period spanning up to two years, this initiative aims to enhance the facilities and production capabilities related to solid rocket motors.

The effort is part of a larger $2.7 billion modernization plan over 15 years, aligning with the Department of Defense's overarching national defense strategy. This modernization is expected to bolster the production capabilities of the U.S. Navy, further securing its role in defense and military readiness.

As the project evolves, X-Bow Systems is poised to leverage several agreements focused on automating and upgrading key operational aspects within the NSWC IHD. This includes improving critical facilities—such as those for inert preparation, propellant casting, automated ingredient feeding, and live rocket motor processing.

Jason Hundley, CEO of X-Bow Systems, emphasized the significance of a strong organic industrial base, stating, "Ensuring our warfighters are prepared for any situation requires a robust organic industrial base. Our work to help modernize NSWC Indian Head will increase production capacity of solid rocket motors and other energetics systems to meet the growing needs of the U.S. military."

Dr. Phillip J. Cole, the Energetics Manufacturing Department Head of NSWC IHD, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the necessity of partnerships like this one in revitalizing the munitions industrial base.

X-Bow has assembled an expert team with decades of experience in solid rocket motor manufacturing and has already completed significant milestones ahead of schedule. Their accomplishments include the timely completion of design phases for several facilities that are critical to enhancing production capabilities.

In addition to collaborating with NSWC IHD, X-Bow Systems actively supplies cutting-edge solid rocket motors to various military branches and commercial customers. The company is also set to launch one of the most affordable production campuses for solid rocket motors by early 2025, further streamlining production processes and costs.

Moreover, the company has received contracts for developing the Mk 72 booster and Mk 104 dual-thrust SRM, aimed at elevating performance for the Navy's Standard Missile program. These initiatives signify a broader commitment to enhance propulsion technologies for both the Navy and the Army, as well as support the U.S. defense strategy involving hypersonic weaponry.

Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, X-Bow is a key player in the aerospace sector, steering innovations in advanced manufacturing and energetics. The company's leadership team comprises industry veterans and innovators committed to making strides in rocket propulsion technologies. Through this latest partnership with the U.S. Navy, X-Bow Systems is set to make a profound impact on the future of defense capabilities and military readiness in the United States.