L3Harris Technologies has debuted an advanced large solid rocket motor to power the company’s air-launched, Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) target vehicle.
The new L3Harris solid rocket motor, named eSR-19, was part of a recent Missile Defense Agency (MDA) test that powered the target’s first and second stages.
The test, designated as Flight Test Other-40 or Stellar Banshee, demonstrated detection and tracking of an advanced hypersonic target by the USS Pinckney. The exercise included firing a simulated upgraded Standard Missile 6 at the target, an air-launched MRBM with a Hypersonic Target Vehicle 1 front end.
“L3Harris designs, builds and integrates air-launched target missiles and then launches them from C-17 aircraft to provide realistic test trajectories,” said Ken Bedingfield, President, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris.
“The enhanced capability of our new eSR-19 solid rocket motor, combined with our proven air-launch system, allows our target missile to accurately represent a wider array of potential threats, providing MDA with more flexibility in developing test scenarios,” he added.
The eSR-19 is an upgraded version of the SR-19, which powers the second stage of the nation’s Minuteman III strategic missiles. The new advanced large solid rocket motor features a lighter filament-wound composite case and other improvements to provide enhanced performance.
The successful mission marks L3Harris’ 39th launch in support of the U.S. missile defense program.
L3Harris Technologies is the Trusted Disruptor in the defense industry. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, L3Harris’ employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.
Photo © Missile Defense Agency (MDA): A Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Hypersonic Target Vehicle (HTV) - 1 front end is air launched from a C-17 aircraft off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawaii, during Flight Test Other-40, or FTX-40, March 24, 2025.
