Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies recently made a Series A investment in Firehawk Aerospace, a company that specializes in high-performance propulsion technology. The two companies will now collaborate on research and development projects that explore the integration of Firehawk’s technology into future missile systems.
“Advanced propulsion technology is critical to developing next-generation missile solutions,” said Wes Kremer, president of Raytheon Missiles & Defense. “Over the next several years, our companies will work together to identify projects that evolve Firehawk’s technology for use in defense applications.”
Firehawk has several patents related to hybrid propulsion, various rocket propellants, and manufacturing methods.
“Our custom-made rocket engines use hybrid propulsion systems rather than conventional solids,” said Will Edwards, co-founder and chief executive officer of Firehawk. “Applying these technologies to defense solutions will open up new capabilities against advanced threats.”
Raytheon Supports DoD with Stingers
Raytheon was part of a group of defense industry leaders who met with DoD leaders at the Pentagon to discuss ongoing security assistance to Ukraine and long-term readiness of U.S., Allied and partner forces. The Pentagon has been providing support to Ukraine.
Recently, Raytheon Technologies CEO Greg Hayes mentioned on a quarterly earnings call that production for the current Raytheon Stinger missile will take years to resupply.
“We’re going to have to go out and redesign some of the electronics in the missile and the seeker head,” said Hayes. “That’s going to take us a little bit of time.”
Hayes said that they will plan on ramping up production, but he expects “this is going to be ‘23-’24 where we actually see orders come in for the larger replenishments, both on Stinger as well as on Javelin, which has also been very successful in theater.”
On Tuesday, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the defense industrial base, some senators made a push to work on supply chain issues for replenishing Stingers and other U.S. “stockpile” items with the Defense Production Act.
Committee chairman Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. told Defense News, “We have a significant usage rate for the Stingers that we’re moving over there ― Javelins also ― and we have to not only be able to help the Ukrainians, we have to maintain our stocks. It might require that kind of support. And that’s something we’ll look at closely.”
