The US Department of Defense has awarded Aerojet Rocketdyne a $22 million contract to spearhead the development of a hypersonic propulsion prototype. Over the course of the next 36 months, Aerojet will diligently undertake the Growing Additive Manufacturing Maturity for Airbreathing Hypersonics (GAMMA-H) challenge program, a crucial endeavor aimed at pushing the boundaries of additive manufacturing technology in the realm of hypersonic propulsion.
Aerojet’s mission within the GAMMA-H program seeks to revolutionize the traditional scramjet manufacturing process, streamlining operations to achieve heightened efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By consolidating essential steps in the manufacturing pipeline, Aerojet endeavors to enhance schedule predictability and cost-efficiency, thereby ensuring a more cohesive and streamlined supply chain.
This monumental contract represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of the Pentagon to modernize and diversify current manufacturing processes, particularly in the production of intricate hypersonic weapons components. Traditional manufacturing methods have long grappled with the complex geometric specifications demanded by advanced hypersonics, prompting a pressing need for innovative solutions.
“Aerojet Rocketdyne will consolidate several essential steps of the end-to-end scramjet manufacturing process under the GAMMA-H contract, which will provide schedule and cost efficiencies associated with a less fragmented supply chain,” said Aerojet Rocketdyne President Ross Niebergall.
“Optimizing processes will increase part yields and reduce the number of processing steps, resulting in higher production velocity and lower cost.”
The GAMMA-H program demonstrates the pivotal role of additive manufacturing in shaping the future of hypersonic weapons, offering unparalleled precision and versatility compared to conventional manufacturing techniques.
Source: thedefensepost.com