BAE Systems Awarded $69 Million U.S. Army Order for Rocket Propellant Grains

The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a $69 million contract for additional production of MK90 propellant grains used to power rockets deployed on rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.

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The MK90 propellant grain is manufactured by BAE Systems at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia, where the company has been the managing operator since 2012. (Photo: BAE Systems)

The MK90 grain is the propulsion component of the MK66 rocket motor, which is the propulsion unit that powers the family of Hydra 70 rocket systems in service with the U.S. military and several allied nations.

“Our employees take great pride in their work and in understanding the science behind producing superior performing propellants,” said Reed McPeak, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Ordnance Systems, Inc. “As one of the Army’s trusted munitions providers, we are committed to supplying propellants to enable the safe and reliable delivery of munitions that successfully fulfill important missions and protect our warfighters.”

The MK90 Grains are manufactured at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia, which has been operated by BAE Systems since 2012. Production will begin immediately and continue through October 2018. The Radford facility is a leading producer of military-grade propellants. Production involves more than 300 people in five manufacturing areas at the plant.

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