Latest news with #SRMs
AllAfrica
15 hours ago
- Science
- AllAfrica
China steps closer to landing on moon by 2030
China has successfully conducted an escape flight test on its lunar spacecraft Mengzhou, which means 'dream ship' in Mandarin. By 2030, the country plans to send three Chinese astronauts to land on the moon. It was the second zero-altitude escape flight test in 27 years, following the first one conducted by the Shenzhou manned spacecraft in 1998. Zero altitude means the test was performed on the ground instead of high in the air. The launch escape system or tower, powered by solid rocket motors (SRMs), was installed at the tip of the Mengzhou aircraft's return capsule. In an emergency during a launch, the capsule is to be separated from the rocket within two seconds whenever the system detects any abnormal situation. During the test on June 17, the integrated spacecraft and launch escape tower assembly ascended and reached its designated altitude in about 20 seconds. The return capsule separated from the escape tower and landed on the ground with a parachute in two minutes. According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), Mengzhou's escape and rescue subsystems are now centralized in the spacecraft. In Shenzhou's case, the rocket handled the escape functions. 'Mengzhou will become the core manned spacecraft sustaining the application and development of China's space station, manned lunar exploration, and other tasks,' said the CMSA. 'The successful test has laid an important technical foundation for the subsequent human-crewed lunar exploration missions.' The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC) Fourth Academy, the developer of the launch escape tower, said in a statement on June 24 that its team has achieved many breakthroughs in developing SRMs, which use solid propellants to generate thrust. It said such an achievement significantly improved Mengzhou's escape system compared with Shenzhou's. 'For the first time, we were responsible for developing the escape system's server using self-developed sensors and mechanics,' it said on June 24. 'We also developed the software and algorithms to control the SRMs, and used environmentally friendly rocket fuels.' 'We will continue to take practical actions to realize China's dream of sending people to the moon,' it said. In January 2022, the United States imposed sanctions on the CASIC Fourth Academy and accused it of acting contrary to US national security or foreign policy interests. After testing the escape system, CMSA's next key mission is to launch the Long March 10A rocket in 2026. China launched its uncrewed Chang'e 6 spacecraft to the moon in May last year using the Long March 5 rocket. Long March 5, nicknamed 'Fat Five,' has eight YF-100 rocket engines in four boosters, and two YF-77 engines on its first stage. Total thrust is 10,636 kilonewtons (kN). It can lift 25 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO), 14 tons to the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and 8 tons to the Earth-moon-transfer orbit, or trans-lunar injection (TLI) trajectory. Such lifting power is not enough to support China's crewed lunar mission. Long March 10 is an upgraded version of Long March 5. It has 14 YF-100 engines in two boosters and seven more on its first stage. The total thrust is 26,250 kN. It can lift 70 tons to LEO and 27 tons to TLI. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) planned to launch the Long March 10 in 2027. However, it said last November that it would launch the Long March 10A in 2026. The Long March 10A is the Long March 10 without two boosters. It can lift 14 tons, or a spacecraft with up to seven people, to LEO, and can be reused. 'The development of our next-generation crewed Long March 10 rocket is on schedule,' said Wang Yue, a researcher at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. 'We have achieved some breakthroughs in developing reusable rockets, and have already started producing the components. According to CNSA's plan, China will launch the Long March 10 thrice between 2027 and 2030. By 2030, the fourth and fifth launches will be a moon lander (Lanyue) and the Mengzhou spacecraft, respectively. None of these rockets will be reused. During the 2030 mission, the spacecraft carrying three astronauts will dock with the lander before landing on the moon. In 2023, CNSA decided to launch the lander and spacecraft separately, as its more powerful Long March 9 rocket will only be available after 2030. Some Chinese commentators said the lunar exploration mission of the Long March 10 will continue to expand after Chinese astronauts' landing on the moon. 'Landing on the moon is only a small part of our country's lunar exploration plan,' a Sichuan-based columnist writes in an article last month. 'We have a much bigger goal – to transform the moon into China's backyard.' 'After our astronauts reach the moon, our people will move and live there sooner or later,' he says. 'We will chat and have entertainment on the moon, treating the place like our backyard.' He says Chinese astronauts will build houses on the moon and frequently travel between the Earth and the moon. He says China will also use its space technology to boost ties with other countries and help send astronauts from different countries to the moon. Ultimately, China will discover how to extract water and make oxygen using resources on the moon. 'Our lunar plan keeps accelerating, while the United States keeps postponing its plan,' he says. 'It is possible that China will beat the US in sending people to the moon in this round of the space race.' On December 19, 1972, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) landed humans on the moon during the Apollo 17 mission. It plans to revisit the Moon in mid-2027 with the Artemis III mission. Two of four astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color, are to land on the Moon's South Pole for a week of scientific exploration. Read: US, China in hot race to put nuclear reactors on the moon
India.com
18-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Israel-Iran war: Bad news for Netanyahu as Israeli air defenses depleting rapidly due to..., may only last for...
Iran has fired 400 ballistic missiles at Israel. (File) Israel-Iran war: In a setback for Israel amid the ever-escalating Israel-Iran war, its multi-layered air defense systems, especially the famed Iron Dome, is facing a critical shortage of interceptors due to the overwhelming barrage of attack drones and ballistic missiles fired by Iran over the last six days. Israel running out of interceptors According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Israel is running out of interceptors to intercept short-range missile, and at the current rate, its ability to intercept and neutralize short-range ballistic missiles (SRMs) could last for around 10-12 days at best. Citing US officials, the report said that Israel may soon have to choose which missile to intercept and which one let through if Iran continues its ballistic missile attack at the current pace. As per the report, Iran has fired nearly 400 ballistic missiles towards Israel since June 13 after Israel sparked the ongoing Israel-Iran war when it conducted deadly airstrikes deep inside the Islamic Republic under Operation Rising Lion. Experts believe that Iran has a total stockpile of about 2,000 missiles, and while the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have claimed to have destroyed several Iranian missile sites and launchers, its believed that a majority of Iran's missiles are kept in classified underground installations that are extremely difficult to reach. How much do interceptions cost Israel? As per defense experts, Israel is forced to spend around $285 million (approximately 1 billion shekels) to stop Iranian missile and drone attacks each night, with a single Arrow 3 interceptor missile costing a whopping $3 million. Israel will likely run out of interceptor missiles with less than two weeks time and will not be able to stop Iranian aerial threats if immediate military resupplies are not received from the United States (US), they say. IDF claims Iron Dome intercepted 90% threats Israel claims its multilayered air defense system, including the famed Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow-3, intercepted 90 percent of the projectiles fired from Iran, but its believed that around 40 locations in the country were struck by Iranian missiles and drones, including major cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ramat Gan, Rishon Lezion and Bat Yam. As per official figures, 24 people have been killed in Iranian strikes so far, including five in Tamra town near Haifa, and one in Bat Yam, while more than 804 have sustained injuries, with 8 in critical condition, 41 with moderate wounds, and 755 with minor injuries. A residential building was completely destroyed in an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, while nine buildings collapsed and hundreds more were damaged in Ramat Gan. Similarly, four residential homes were destroyed in Rishon LeZion, while an Iranian missile caused damage near the IDF headquarters in Kirya. The Israel Tax Authority has received 18,766 damage claims, including 15,861 related to damage to buildings and structures, 1,272 vehicle damage claims, and 1,633 related to goods and other property. Israel-Iran war On June 13, Israel unleashed a wave of pre-dawn air strikes on Iranian cities, including capital Tehran, under Operation Rising Lion, in which several top Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders, including IRGC chief Hossein Salami, commander Ghulam-Ali Rashid, nuclear scientist Dr. Mohammad Tehranchi, nuclear scientist Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi and Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri. Hours later, Iran, under Operation True Promise III, responded with a barrage of missiles and drones that struck several Israeli cities and major population centers, including Tel Aviv. Both sides have launched devastating strikes on each other, causing significant damage to infrastructure and loss of civilian lives, even as world powers and global agencies, including the United Nations, have urged the two bitter enemies to exercise utmost restraint. According to various media reports, more than 230 people, including about top Iranian military officers and nuclear scientists, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, while Iranian missile attacks have resulted in the deaths of more than 24 Israelis.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
X-Bow Assembles Powerhouse Advisory Board to Fuel Growth
Influential Leaders from Military, Government, and Industry to Guide X-Bow's Expansion ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Bow Systems Inc (X-Bow), the leading non-traditional producer of advanced solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, today announced the formation of its Strategic Advisory Board, which will provide strategic counsel and support the company's continued growth and maturation. The advisory board members include: Vice Admiral (USN-Ret.) Terry Benedict, former Director of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, and President of Systems Planning & Analysis. Major General (USSF-Ret.) John M. Olson, PhD, former Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force, and President and Chief Executive Officer of AXIONS Corporation. Major General (USAF-Ret.) Garrett Harencak, former Commander of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, and President of Harencak Consulting LLC. Michael E. White, AIAA Fellow, and former DoD Principal Director for Hypersonics. Preston Dunlap, Founder and CEO of Arkenstone Capital and Arkenstone Ventures, and former Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Space Force and Air Force. Colonel (USAF-Ret.) Sean McKay, former program manager for various DOD, Foreign Military Sales, and Intelligence Community activities, and CEO and founder of Precision ISR. J. Jeffrey Irons, retired aerospace and defense consultant and founder of ironSclad Solutions, Inc. Dr. Marco Villa, Founding Partner of Ceresio Consulting and former executive at Terran Orbital Corporation and SpaceX. Steve Pann, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Razor's Edge Ventures, and former CIA Science and Technology Officer. These renowned defense and private sector leaders, with extensive backgrounds in national security, technology, and international relations, will provide guidance on X-Bow's strategic growth efforts. "We are honored to welcome such an accomplished group of advisors – a true powerhouse of expertise – to the team," said Jason Hundley, CEO of X-Bow. "Their collective experience and insights will be instrumental as we continue to grow both at home and abroad." The addition of former government and military leaders underscores X-Bow's unwavering commitment to supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) and its vital mission. Since its inception in 2016, X-Bow has closely collaborated with the military on its evolving requirements for energetics, munitions and SRMs and the missions they could support. The company's strategic advisors will further deepen X-Bow's understanding of DoD and global requirements and demands and strengthen its ability to deliver on the needs of the mission and the defense industrial base. About X-Bow SystemsX-Bow Systems is disrupting the aerospace industry with innovative and cost-effective advanced manufactured energetics for the solid rocket motor and launch vehicle market. X-Bow is also designing and building a suite of modular solid rocket motors and small launch vehicles for both orbital and suborbital launch services. X-Bow is led by CEO Jason Hundley, Chairman Mark Kaufman, CTO Max Vozoff, CRO Maureen Gannon, General Counsel John Leary, COO Mike Bender and a growing team of seasoned industry veterans and new space entrepreneurs. X-Bow is a dual-use technology company with investment from: Crosslink Capital, Razor's Edge Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures, Boeing, Arkenstone Capital, The Capital Factory, and Lockheed Martin Ventures. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, X-Bow has additional presence in California, Alabama, Colorado, Texas, Utah, Maryland and Washington, DC. For more information visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE X-Bow Systems
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
To amass cheap rockets, US Army picks Anduril to develop solid motor
The U.S. Army has chosen Anduril Rocket Motor Systems to develop a new 4.75-inch solid rocket motor for long-range precision rocket artillery, the company announced today. Anduril Industries moved into the solid rocket motor business when it acquired Adranos in 2023, which allowed it to start supplying solid rocket motors to companies that make hypersonic weapons, missiles and other propulsion systems. While the rocket motor industry has grown — and now includes L3Harris' Aerojet Rocketdyne, Northrop Grumman and Nammo — there is still a shortage of solid-rocket motors to outfit all of the missiles. The U.S. has ramped up its missile production to resupply its own stockpiles after providing weapons to Ukraine and to ensure it has enough to handle future contingencies that may demand the firepower. 'Ongoing global conflicts have only underscored the urgency of increasing industry capacity,' retired Army Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, Anduril Industries' senior vice president, wrote in a company blog post. 'SRMs are essential components of munitions and hypersonic weapons, making it critical to scale production and replenish this depleted resource.' Earlier this week, Army Futures Command Commander Gen. James Rainey said the service's exquisite and precise weapon systems are necessary to penetrate deep into enemy territory and go up against enemy air defenses, but there is also a need for 'boxes of rockets, cheap rockets, that we can fire in the hundreds.' When it comes to air defense or offensive long-range fires, 'we are seeing companies that are coming in at price points, the ability to scale. It's very promising and present,' Rainey said at the McAleese and Associates' defense conference in Arlington, Virginia. 'Anduril's solution will increase magazine capacity while maintaining the range, effectiveness, and lethality required on today's battlefield,' Thurgood said in his post. The 4.75-inch size 'potentially' allows for up to 30 guided rockets to be configured in a single High Mobility Artillery Rocket System pod, Thurgood said, 'drastically improving the loadout within existing launcher constraints.' Anduril 'is one of the first companies developing rocket motors in this form factor to meet the Army's need for increased volume and affordability,' he added. The company will build and test rocket motors using both traditional aluminized propellant and its 'advanced ALITEC fuel,' according to Thurgood. ALITEC improves munition range in a smaller package while using less power, he noted. 'We anticipate that ALITEC-powered SRMs will achieve ranges comparable to significantly larger rocket motors, providing long-range strike capability in a smaller and more efficient design,' Thurgood writes. Additionally, the company is using its recent $14.3 million Defense Production Act award to improve manufacturing methods, including 'applying single-piece-flow manufacturing, powered by bladeless high-speed mixer.' The company is also investing $74 million internally to produce large amounts of SRMs at a lower cost, Thurgood said.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kratos & RAFAEL Establish Prometheus Energetics Joint Venture, a U.S.-Based Merchant Supplier of Solid Rocket Motors
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in the defense, national security and global markets, and RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., today announced an approximate 50/50 partnership for the establishment of a U.S.-based merchant supplier of solid rocket motors (SRMs) and other energetics. The new joint venture, named Prometheus Energetics ('Prometheus'), is set to be headquartered on an approximate 500-acre site near the United States Navy and Army facility in Crane, Indiana. Kratos and RAFAEL (through its U.S. based subsidiary RAFAEL USA) have jointly committed up to $175 million in capital for the establishment of Prometheus and required property, plant, equipment and personnel needed for the new, state-of-the-art energetics manufacturing campus and facilities. After construction of the plant and once RAFAEL's technology transfer is completed and certified for operations, Prometheus is projected to begin production in 2027 of SRMs. RAFAEL is the developer and manufacturer of unique, world-renowned systems such as the Iron Dome and the TROPHY APS which are in service in the Israeli Defense Forces as well as the David's Sling which provides the middle layer of air defense for the state of Israel. The company, originally established as the IDF Science Corps, has developed groundbreaking technologies like high energy laser solutions like the Iron Beam which are expected to be operational by the end of 2025. The company functions through a vertical integration structure that enables a unique ability to meet the demands and overcome the challenges of the global market and supply chain. RAFAEL offers a diverse portfolio from new space to the ground battlespace with battle-proven technologies. Kratos is a leader in hypersonic or advanced systems, strategic systems, ballistic missile targets, sub-orbital research vehicles, sounding rockets, and solid rocket motors. Kratos has served the U.S. advanced systems and missile defense communities for decades, delivering numerous novel systems and vehicle flight tests. Kratos is the only company today delivering both propulsion and advanced flight systems, with Kratos advanced systems including the low-cost Erinyes Glide Vehicle, Dark Fury, Zeus and Oriole Solid Rocket Motors, and other Kratos systems and technologies. Kratos provides unmatched innovation, disruptive capabilities, mission responsiveness and affordability to our customers across our portfolio of systems. Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos Defense, said, 'We believe Prometheus, once up and running at full rate production, will be a step function catalyst in value creation for Kratos' stakeholders and the U.S. defense industrial base, similar to Kratos' recent MACH-TB contract award—the largest single-award contract in Kratos history. Like other major Kratos investments such as Oriole, Zeus, and Erinyes, Prometheus responds to a critical need to strengthen the U.S. Industrial Base and will also provide tens of thousands of SRMs and casted warheads supporting both America's most reliable partner in the Middle East and United States national security related demand from a true SRM and energetics merchant supplier.' Kratos will reflect Prometheus in its consolidated financial statements on the Equity Method of Accounting, under which Kratos will record approximately 50 percent of Prometheus Net Income on a single line 'Net Income from Prometheus Energetics' in its income statement, and Kratos will annually receive approximately 50 percent of the Free Cash Flow generated from Prometheus. Kratos intends to continue to report Kratos Operating Income, Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and other financial matrices separate from the Prometheus results, in order for all Kratos stakeholders to be able to follow the progress of each Company, the investment made in Prometheus and the future return on Kratos' investment in Prometheus. RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., one of Israel's largest defense contractors, develops, manufactures, and sustains combat-proven technologies, products, and systems-of-systems for air, land, naval, space and digital applications. RAFAEL's delivery of combat-proven systems is supported by vertically integrated facilities and engineering teams servicing the development and production of SRMs and warhead (WH) products that play a critical role in Israel's Iron Dome, the world's premier air defense system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets, artillery shells, UAVs, and other aerial threats. This vertical integration has made RAFAEL a leading expert in SRMs and WH development and production, allowing it to continuously expand capabilities and push the envelope in technology, performance, and fielding of effective systems. RAFAEL's multi-dimensional portfolio and unique innovative capabilities have enabled the development of world-leading technologies across all spheres. Yoav Tourgeman, President and CEO of RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., said: 'The establishment of Prometheus Energetics is a strategic leap forward, reinforcing RAFAEL's commitment to strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base while ensuring our allies and partners have access to the most advanced, combat-proven energetics solutions. This step constitutes a strategic vector that combines business considerations in the American market with the increasing demand for energetic products, while significantly enhancing our ability to deliver resilient and reliable supply solutions to our customers. Through this joint venture, we are deepening our longstanding partnership with the United States, strengthening supply chain independence, and bolstering the critical capabilities needed to address evolving national security challenges.' About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology, products, system and software company addressing the defense, national security, and commercial markets. Kratos makes true internally funded research, development, capital and other investments, to rapidly develop, produce and field solutions that address our customers' mission critical needs and requirements. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we seek to utilize proven, leading edge approaches and technology, not unproven bleeding edge approaches or technology, with Kratos' approach designed to reduce cost, schedule and risk, enabling us to be first to market with cost effective solutions. We believe that Kratos is known as an innovative disruptive change agent in the industry, a company that is an expert in designing products and systems up front for successful rapid, large quantity, low-cost future manufacturing which is a value add competitive differentiator for our large traditional prime system integrator partners and also to our government and commercial customers. Kratos intends to pursue program and contract opportunities as the prime or lead contractor when we believe that our probability of win (PWin) is high and any investment required by Kratos is within our capital resource comfort level. We intend to partner and team with a large, traditional system integrator when our assessment of PWin is greater or required investment is beyond Kratos' comfort level. Kratos' primary business areas include virtualized ground systems for satellites and space vehicles including software for command & control (C2) and telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), jet powered unmanned aerial drone systems, advanced vehicles and rocket systems, propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, space craft and launch systems, C5ISR and microwave electronic products for missile, radar, missile defense, space, satellite, counter UAS, directed energy, communication and other systems, and virtual & augmented reality training systems for the warfighter. For more information, visit About RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Established in 1948, RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. develops, manufactures, and sustains combat-proven technologies, products, and systems-of-systems for air, land, naval, space and digital applications. As the developer of two integral layers of Israel's multi-layered air defense array and the developer of the world's only operation active protection system TROPHY APS, the company offers innovative and proven solutions for the global market. RAFAEL's air defense portfolio has achieved international recognition from Iron Dome to David's Sling and is expected to provide the first ever operational high-energy laser weapon system to the IDF by 2025. The company has bolstered its international standing as a top-tier defense manufacturer by through an innovative approach of vertical integration enabling seamless technology transfer and local production, making it a trusted partner for defense solutions in global markets, particularly in the U.S. where its systems strengthen national security priorities. Leveraging its technological ingenuity, operational experience, and unparalleled understanding of evolving combat requirements, RAFAEL provides global warfighters with today's most advanced technologies and life-saving defense solutions that ensure operational superiority. RAFAEL's strategy includes strategic international partnerships and localization to ensure customer sovereignty. For more information on RAFAEL, please visit Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 29, 2024, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos. Press Contacts: Claire Burghoff Daniel Tsemach DANIELT5@ Investor Information: 877-934-4687 investor@ in to access your portfolio
