U.S. Army Successfully Fires Gel Missile Propulsion System Built By TRW And Talley Defense Systems Team.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 1998--The first successful firing of an innovative "gel" missile propulsion system suited for a wide variety of tactical missiles was conducted last month at the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

The firing demonstrated critical characteristics of the gel propulsion system, which is fueled with very viscous, semi-solid propellants. These characteristics include the ability to significantly extend the range of existing missiles powered by solid motors, to meet tactical mission requirements regardless of range or speed and to provide energy management.

"The success of this test represents a major step forward for gel propulsion," said Robert Sackheim, manager of the TRW Propulsion Systems Center. "We believe gel technology will bring tremendous improvements to the performance, effectiveness and safety of missiles with a broad range of missions. TRW and its teammate, Talley Defense Systems, are uniquely positioned to capitalize on developments in gel propulsion."

Gel engines offer the same throttling capability as conventional liquid propellants, but are safer because they do not leak, spill or explode. Because they can be controlled much more easily than solid rockets, gel engines permit missiles to lock on to targets before or after launch, slow down and search for targets, loiter, speed up and maneuver precisely to home in on them, shut down and restart.

The versatility of gel missile propulsion systems will enable the development of a new generation of tactical and interceptor missiles, able to counter ground-to-ground and ground-to-air threats much more cost-effectively and accurately than today's solid rocket propelled missiles.

"We believe gel systems will provide the capability for a multimission missile that could ultimately replace the primarily single-mission tactical missiles currently in use," said Steven Nelson, TRW's gel propulsion system program manager.

The gel propulsion system was developed by TRW and teammate Talley Defense Systems under the Future Missile Technology Integration (FMTI) program, sponsored by the Army's Aviation and Missile Command. The objective of FMTI is to develop missile technology that can be integrated into future weapons systems.

During tests at Redstone Arsenal, the gel propulsion system was fired six times during the 45-second static test, with the first firing lasting 1.6 seconds and subsequent firings lasting for 300 milliseconds. An inspection following the test showed the engine, gel propellant tank, electronics and adjacent missile hardware in excellent condition and available for additional testing.

The next milestone for the system is a flight test, which is scheduled to take place this winter at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. A gel propulsion unit will be integrated with a largely complete missile and fired from a missile launcher on a Bradley Fighting vehicle. A second flight test is planned for 1999.

TRW is currently under contract to develop and deliver four units to the Army. Two demonstration units and one flight test have already been delivered, and the last flight unit is scheduled for delivery in the coming months.

Talley Defense Systems, based in Mesa, Ariz., has been teamed with TRW for close to two decades in developing gelled propellant and pressurization technologies.

TRW is an industry leader in propulsion products and technology. The company provides propulsion components, engines, and systems for spacecraft attitude and velocity control, orbit maneuvering and adjust, tactical mission steering, and orbit insertion.

TRW Space & Electronics Group builds communications, scientific and defense spacecraft; produces, integrates and tests payloads; develops advanced space instruments and integrates experiments into spacecraft.

It is an operating unit of TRW Inc., which provides advanced technology products and services for the automotive, space and defense, and information technology markets worldwide. TRW's 1997 sales totaled nearly $12 billion (including the recent BDM acquisition).