Northrop Grumman and ATK have conducted the second production quality assurance (PQA) ground test of the Minuteman III stage one solid rocket motor at ATK’s test facility in Utah, US.
The testing was conducted as a part of the US Air Force (USAF) Minuteman Solid Rocket Motor Warm Line (SRMWL) programme.
Northrop Grumman’s Missile Systems vice-president Tony Spehar said the successful test ensures the integrity and reliability of the solid rocket motor.
The SRMWL programme is intended to sustain and maintain the unique manufacturing and engineering infrastructure required to preserve the solid rocket motor production capability.
The motor set has completed stage two and three ground tests in altitude chambers at the air force’s Arnold Engineering Development Centre in Tennessee earlier in 2011.
