Aerojet Rocketdyne Demos Groundbreaking Propulsion for Next
Stay informed with our
free newsletters

Feb 8, 2022

Aerojet Rocketdyne Demos Groundbreaking Propulsion for Next Generation Torpedoes

Aerojet Rocketdyne has successfully built and tested a Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion, or SCEPS, lithium boiler which could be used to power the U.S. Navy’s next generation torpedoes.

“Aerojet Rocketdyne’s self-funded manufacturing of a SCEPS lithium boiler demonstrates our strong commitment to delivering affordable, low risk and high quality products to the U.S. Navy,” said Eileen P. Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president.

SCEPS is an advanced propulsion system which improves the capabilities of the MK 54 MOD 2 torpedo.

Missile Defense System Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2019-2029F

Missile Defense System Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2019-2029F

By Range (Less than 100Km, 101-200Km, and 201-400Km), By Threat Type (Subsonic Missiles, Supersonic Missiles, and Hypersonic Missiles), By Domain (Ground and Marine), By Region, Competition, 2019-2029F

Download free sample pages

“Maritime security is essential to national security,” said Drake. “The Aerojet Rocketdyne team is proud to enhance and advance our investment in SCEPS propulsion to power the nation’s cutting-edge undersea capability that will ultimately protect what we value most – our homeland, our U.S. military service members and our allies.”

Aerojet Rocketdyne independently funded the fabrication and testing of the SCEPS lithium-based thermal energy system, which uses an energetic chemical reaction to power a steam turbine. The boiler design builds upon the Penn State University Applied Research Laboratory’s (PSU-ARL) technical data package distributed by the U.S. Navy in 2020 for the Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW) program.

In addition to its possible use for torpedoes, such as CRAW, Aerojet Rocketdyne is also developing SCEPS for the larger MK 54 MOD 2 torpedo. Aerojet Rocketdyne is under contract to the U.S. Navy to deliver SCEPS prototype afterbody/tailcone assemblies for an advanced propulsion system for the MK 54 MOD 2 Advanced Lightweight Torpedo (ALWT).


Aerojet Rocketdyne
View original News release

DoD Energy & Power Summit

DoD Energy & Power Summit

Washington, DC
Jul 31 - Aug 1, 2024

View agenda
Hypersonic Innovation Conference 2024

Hypersonic Innovation Conference 2024

Dayton, OH
May 7 - 8, 2024

View agenda