From Venezuela to Iran: How America’s missile push is running into a solid rocket motor supply crisis — explained

As conflicts from Venezuela to West Asia drive a renewed surge in US demand for missiles and munitions, a less visible but increasingly critical bottleneck is emerging deep inside the American defence supply chain. The problem is not a lack of missile designs or prime contractors, but a growing shortage of solid rocket motors and, more importantly, the specialised materials and components needed to produce them, according to reporting by Breaking Defense. Zelensky's Days Numbered? Putin's 'Ukraine Running Out Of Time' ULTIMATUM As Trump Blames Kyiv Senior industry executives told Breaking Defense that while the Pentagon is pushing to rapidly expand munitions stockpiles, the fragile and highly concentrated supply chain that underpins solid rocket motors has not kept pace. This mismatch is raising concerns about whether the United States can scale missile production fast enough in a prolonged, multi-theatre crisis environment. ‘Father Called...’: Maduro’s Son Reveals Shocking Details About Parents’ Life In U.S. Detention Why solid rocket motors matter Solid rocket motors power many of the US military’s most important weapons, including the Army’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System and the Navy’s Standard Missile family. Demand for these systems has surged in recent years as Washington replenishes stocks drawn down by support for allies and prepares for high-intensity conflicts. That surge has encouraged new players to enter the market and pushed established manufacturers to expand. However, executives say growth at the top has not been matched by growth at the lower tiers of the supply chain, where many critical parts and chemicals are produced by just one or two suppliers. “We don’t really need a third solid rocket motor provider,” L3Harris CEO Chris Kubasik said in September. “We need more companies that make nozzles. We need more companies that make igniters. We need more companies that make cases.” Small suppliers under pressure One example highlighted by Breaking Defense is Helicon Chemical Company, a small Orlando-based firm trying to become a second supplier for HTPB-45M, a binding agent used in most solid rocket motors. Helicon planned to set up production in West Virginia, backed by a $15 million Pentagon contract. That funding has been stalled by budget uncertainty. “The situation is aggravated by the ongoing lapse in the Small Business Innovation Research program,” Helicon CEO Jack Sarnicki told Breaking Defense, adding that another government shutdown could be devastating. “Everything has come to a screeching halt,” Sarnicki said. “If we don’t get under contract and another government shutdown occurs, we could have real issues with my company. We would probably have to think about laying off people.” Even if funding resumes, Helicon estimates it would take 18 months to two years to qualify production, meaning every delay directly extends the timeline before a second supplier becomes available. A shrinking industrial base According to defence analytics firm Govini, the US industrial base for solid rocket motors has dramatically narrowed over the past three decades. Between 1995 and 2017, the number of US providers fell from six to just two, Orbital ATK, now part...

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