Aerojet Rocketdyne's AR1 Program Passes Preburner Tests

Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.’s (NYSE:AJRD) subsidiary, Aerojet Rocketdyne, reached full power during a significant preburner test series that was conducted at the NASA’s Stennis Space Center earlier this month.

The design parameters of the key preburner injector were verified by the test series for the company’s AR1 engine. The AR1 engine is being designed to “end use of Russian engines for national security space launches.”

The latest testing series marks the extension of a prior preburner testing that was conducted in the NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and an Aerojet Rocketdyne facility in Sacramento, CA.

According to Eileen Drake, CEO and President of Aerojet Rocketdyne, the company remains focused on delivering an AR1 engine in 2019. The company also deems the AR1 engine to be “the fastest, lowest cost, lowest risk way for the U.S. to guarantee assured access to space,” as proven by the successful preburner test.

Based in Sacramento, Aerojet Rocketdyne focuses on developing military, civil and commercial systems and components for the aerospace and defense industry.

Following the outbreak of tension between the U.S. and Russia over the latter’s annexation of Crimea and support of the rebels in eastern Ukraine, Congress passed a legislation in 2014 banning the U.S. Department of Defense from using Russian rocket engines for space launches from 2019.

Aerojet Rocketdyne currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to Consider

Investors interested in the aerospace and defense equipment sector may consider TransDigm Group Inc. (NYSE:TDG) , BAE Systems (LON:BAES) plc (OTC:BAESY) and CAE Inc. (TO:CAE) . While TransDigm sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), BAE Systems and CAE carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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