Hybrid Propulsion for Low-Cost and Scalable Tactical Rocket Motors

There is an increased demand by the USAF, and broader DoD, for solid rocket motor (SRM) production driven by efforts to replenish US weapons stocks, an increase in foreign military sales of tactical missiles, the introduction of new offensive and defense weapons systems, and production limitations within the existing SRM supply chain. The US has an urgent imperative to enhance and expand the SRM industrial base to address surging production demands and to mitigate existing supply chain risks. Hybird Space Systems (HyBird) and Utah State University (USU) propose the advancement of a high performance, tightly packaged, and low-cost hybrid propulsion system to address critical USAF mission areas reliant on tactical SRMs. The advent of a hybrid propulsion system combines the smart advantages of liquid propulsion with the operational simplicity of solid propulsion in an entirely green package. The proposed 1,000-lbf Tactical Rocket Experiment (TRex-1000) hybrid propulsion system, is differentiated to address a range of defense mission needs.  Phase II will mature a hybrid propulsion system to demonstrate the cost-performance advantages of a hybrid propulsion system compared to legacy Air Force solid rocket motors. The effort will complete a PDR, extensive hotfire characterization testing, and deliver prototype motors and designs to validate the ability of hybrid motors to enhance the supply of future rocket systems. This effort will deliver a 1000-lbf highly characterized hybrid system that can used in tactical propulsion applications or further scaled to address a range of USAF rocket propulsion applications.