Aerojet Successfully Tests Flight-Weight Controllable Thrust Motor

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 23, 2002 -- Aerojet, a GenCorp Inc. company, today announced the recent successful test of a flight-weight controllable thrust motor at its Sacramento, Calif. facility. Preliminary indications show the motor achieved all performance objectives that were specified for the test.

The controllable thrust motor provides any level of thrust, at any time, within the range of capability, for tactical missile applications. Prior to the test, the motor completed vibration testing and was temperature conditioned to the highest level of the specification. The motor also included flight weight controller electronics that controlled the motor with thrust commands. The test culminated in a successful static firing for a duration of 44 seconds, indicating controllable thrust motor technology is now ready for flight testing.

"Controllable thrust technology allows for one motor to support multiple missions," said Aerojet Defense Systems Executive Director Joe Abbate. "The most immediate beneficiary of this motor test will be the Raytheon NetFires Precision Attack Missile (PAM). Our achievement with this test has dramatically increased the confidence for use of this motor in the PAM flight demonstration program."

"This successful test - at the specified extreme temperature conditions - gives us the confidence our flights tests will be successful," said Glen Sutton, program manager for Raytheon's NetFires PAM.

The controllable thrust motor supports longer range, shorter time-to-target, multi-mission capability and other benefits. One additional test planned for the near future will be a ground test at specified cold temperatures to complete the flight verification test series.

Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, and defense and armaments markets. GenCorp Inc. is a technology-based manufacturer with leading positions in aerospace and defense, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. For more information, please visit http://www.aerojet.com and http://www.gencorp.com.

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