XBow Systems expands defense contract for hypersonic solid rocket motors
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 23, 2024
X-Bow Systems Inc. (X-Bow), a key innovator in solid rocket motor (SRM) production and defense technology, has announced an expansion of its U.S. Department of Defense contract to supply large SRMs to the U.S. Navy and Army. This development further positions X-Bow as a critical supplier in bolstering the national defense supply chain during a strategically important time for the United States.
On December 3, 2024, X-Bow welcomed Ms. Adele Ratcliff, Director of the DoD’s Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office, to its expanding Texas campus. Ms. Ratcliff, who also leads the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, plays a vital role in enhancing the U.S. defense industry’s capabilities and supporting emerging sectors like advanced manufacturing.
“It is a national imperative that DoD seek new and rapid alternative sources of solid rocket motor production that provide the Department’s decision makers options that not only meet DoD’s operational needs but bring capabilities and capacity to bear that grow the defense industrial base (DIB),” said Ms. Ratcliff. “X-Bow is a critical partner in the DIB ecosystem that aims to provide technical overmatch in the Hypersonics domain.”
Max Vozoff, Chief Technology Officer at X-Bow Systems, emphasized the importance of the expanded contract. “This contract expansion underscores the critical role X-Bow is playing in modernizing the U.S. defense industrial base,” he said. “Our innovative manufacturing techniques and focus on advanced materials will enable us to deliver high-performance solid rocket motors more efficiently and cost-effectively, strengthening our national security posture.”
During her visit, Ms. Ratcliff reviewed X-Bow’s cutting-edge SRM and energetics manufacturing methods. These advancements promise to substantially increase SRM production capacity while reducing production costs.
X-Bow’s Texas campus, nearing completion, will soon become the second-largest solid rocket motor production facility in the country. This facility is expected to significantly boost national defense readiness. Ms. Ratcliff’s visit underscored the essential role X-Bow plays in advancing U.S. defense capabilities through its focus on innovative manufacturing in SRM technology.
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