Solid Rocket Motor Market (2026-2036)
The global Solid Rocket Motor Market was valued at USD 9,717.0 million in 2025. This market is expected to reach USD 22,566.3 million by 2036 from an estimated USD 10,683.8 million in 2026, registering a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period (2026-2036).
- Published
- Sep 2026
- Pages
- 250
- Format
- PDF + Excel
- Report ID
- MR-2236
- Base year
- 2025
- 2025 · BASELINE
- $9.72B
- 2036
- $22.57B
- CAGR 2026–2036
- 7.8%
2025 baseline · 2026–2036 forecast at 7.8% CAGR · hover a bar for the value
Key highlights
The global Solid Rocket Motor Market is projected to reach USD 22, 566.3 million by 2036, supported by munitions replenishment, layered air and missile defense, strategic deterrent modernization, hypersonic programs, and growing space launch activity.
In 2026, the U.S. government and Lockheed Martin agreed to raise PAC-3 MSE production capacity from about 600 to 2,000 missiles per year by 2030 and to quadruple THAAD capacity, while NATO allies committed to raise defense and security-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
The U.S. industrial base for solid rocket motors shrank from six producers in 1995 to two by 2017, and in response the U.S. Department of War completed a USD 1 billion convertible preferred equity investment in the L3Harris Missile Solutions business in April 2026, while Northrop Grumman agreed in August 2026 to become a second source for PAC-3 MSE motors.
New entrants and allied manufacturers are adding capacity, including Anduril Industries' full-rate facility in McHenry, Mississippi, targeting 6,000 tactical motors per year, Nammo's planned factory in Perry, Florida, Avio's U.S. motor facility in Virginia, and Australia's AUD 126.9 million commitment to domestic motor manufacturing in April 2026.
By platform, tactical missiles are expected to account for the largest market share in 2026, whereas hypersonic systems are projected to witness the fastest growth through 2036. By motor size, small motors are expected to lead the market, while medium motors are projected to grow the fastest.
North America is expected to account for the largest market share in 2026, with the U.S. the largest individual country market, while the Middle East & Africa is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period.
Report summary
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Forecast Period | 2026-2036 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Estimated Year | 2026 |
| Historical Data | 2024-2025 |
| CAGR (Value) | 7.8% |
| Format | PDF, Excel & Cloud Portal · 250 pages |
| Market Size (Value) in 2026 | USD 10,683.8 Million |
| Market Size (Value) in 2036 | USD 22,566.3 Million |
| Segments Covered | By Platform: Tactical Missiles (Air-to-Air, Surface-to-Air & Air Defense, Anti-Tank & Anti-Armor, Anti-Ship & Land Attack), Strategic & Ballistic Missiles, Missile Defense Interceptors, Hypersonic Systems, Rocket Artillery, Space Launch Vehicles (Boosters & Strap-Ons, Upper Stages & Kick Motors), Sounding Rockets & Target Vehicles. By Motor Size: Small (<12 in), Medium (12–40 in), Large (>40 in). By Propellant Type: Composite, Double-Base & Modified Double-Base, Advanced & Reduced-Hazard. By Case Material: Metallic, Composite. By End User: Defense Forces, Civil Space Agencies, Commercial Launch Providers. |
| Countries Covered | North America: U.S., Canada. Europe: France, U.K., Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Rest of Europe. Asia-Pacific: China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific. Middle East & Africa: Israel, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Rest of Middle East & Africa. Latin America: Brazil, Rest of Latin America. |
| Key Companies | Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, Nammo, Avio, Roxel, Bayern-Chemie, ArianeGroup, IHI Aerospace, Tomer, Hanwha Aerospace, Anduril Industries, X-Bow Systems, Ursa Major Technologies, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, and Premier Explosives. |
Report overview
Segments covered: platform, motor size, propellant type, case material, end user.
The growth of this market is mainly driven by munitions replenishment and stockpile rebuilding and the expansion of air and missile defense. However, limited production capacity and supplier concentration and long qualification cycles restrain the growth of this market.
Furthermore, new-entrant capacity and advanced manufacturing and the expansion of allied and regional production are expected to offer growth opportunities for the stakeholders in this market. However, safety, environmental, and permitting constraints and the need to expand the workforce and facilities remain major challenges impacting the growth of this market. Additionally, the development of next-generation motors and propellants and a wave of government and private investment in motor production are prominent trends in this market.
The Solid Rocket Motor Market comprises propulsion systems in which solid propellant is cast or loaded into the motor case, providing the long storage life, rapid readiness, and simple operation required by tactical and strategic missiles, air and missile defense interceptors, hypersonic systems, rocket artillery, space launch vehicles, and sounding rockets and target vehicles. The market is measured as the revenue generated from the sale of solid rocket motors as separate items by motor manufacturers to missile and launch vehicle prime contractors, defense forces, and space agencies. Motors built by a manufacturer into its own missiles or launch vehicles are excluded, and values for China and Russia are indicative estimates.
Demand is driven primarily by defense programs and secondarily by space launch vehicles that use solid boosters, upper stages, and kick motors. Since 2022, conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have consumed large quantities of air defense interceptors, artillery rockets, and other precision munitions, exposing limited production capacity in the U.S. and Europe, and governments have responded with multiyear procurement agreements, direct investment in motor production, and support for new entrants. As a result, solid rocket motors have moved from a niche industrial concern to a central element of defense industrial policy.
Supply is concentrated among a small number of qualified manufacturers. In the U.S., Orbital ATK was acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2018 and Aerojet Rocketdyne by L3Harris in 2023, leaving two main producers that depend on a small number of shared subtier suppliers, and critical inputs such as ammonium perchlorate, produced in the U.S. by a single domestic supplier, and nitrocellulose depend on very few producers. Ursa Major described motor production in July 2026 as the bottleneck in missile manufacturing, and new facilities for propellant mixing, casting, curing, test, and storage take years to build and qualify.
Governments and industry are now investing heavily to expand supply. L3Harris signed a seven-year PAC-3 MSE motor framework agreement in July 2026 and is constructing about 60 facilities across its solid rocket motor operations, Northrop Grumman agreed in August 2026 to become a second source for PAC-3 MSE motors, Ursa Major agreed in the same month to go public to fund motor production, and Israel approved an acceleration of Arrow interceptor production. In Europe, Aster production doubled in 2026, and Bayern-Chemie is restarting Patriot GEM-T motor production in Aschau am Inn from the end of 2026.
Market dynamics
10 factors across 5 forcesMunitions Replenishment and Stockpile Rebuilding
Munitions replenishment and stockpile rebuilding is the most important factor driving the Solid Rocket Motor Market. Since 2022, large quantities of air defense interceptors, artillery rockets, anti-tank missiles, and other precision weapons have been supplied to Ukraine and consumed in conflicts in the Middle East, while defense planners have concluded that existing stockpiles and production rates are insufficient for a high-intensity conflict. Governments have responded by sharply increasing munitions procurement: PAC-3 MSE production is set to rise from about 600 to 2,000 missiles per year by 2030 under a seven-year multiyear procurement valued at about USD 58.6 billion, THAAD production capacity is to quadruple, PrSM and other munitions are planned at three to four times current rates, and Aster production in Europe doubled in 2026. Each of these programs translates directly into demand for small and medium motors from Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Roxel, Avio, and other suppliers.
Expansion of Air and Missile Defense
The expansion of air and missile defense is one of the fastest-growing sources of motor demand, as the proliferation of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and hypersonic weapons has led governments to build layered defenses from short-range systems to upper-tier interceptors. Interceptors typically use high-performance medium or large motors, often with multiple stages or pulses, and are consumed in large numbers in intensive engagements. In the U.S., PAC-3 MSE and THAAD ramp-ups are accompanied by increased production of Standard Missile variants, while countries in Europe and Asia are procuring Patriot, IRIS-T SLM, SAMP/T, CAMM, and national systems. The U.S. Navy has also awarded Mk 104 motor development contracts to multiple suppliers, including a USD 10 million award to Ursa Major in July 2026, to build second sources and resilience.
Table of contents
13 chapters · 228 sections · 250 pages · click to expandSegmental analysis
| Segment | Largest share (2026) | Fastest growth (2026–2036) |
|---|---|---|
| By Platform | Tactical Missiles | Hypersonic Systems |
| By Motor Size | Small | Medium |
| By Propellant Type | Composite Propellant | Advanced & Reduced-Hazard Propellant |
| By Case Material | — | Rapid growth of this |
| By End User | Defense Forces | Defense Forces |
By Platform
- The Tactical Missiles segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market.
- The large share of this segment is mainly due to the high production volumes of tactical missiles and the ramp-up of munitions production in the U.S. and Europe.
- However, the Hypersonic Systems segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
- The rapid growth of this segment is attributed to the transition of hypersonic programs from development to production, from a relatively small base, while missile defense interceptors also grow rapidly with the PAC-3 MSE and THAAD ramp-ups.
By Motor Size
- The Small segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market.
- The large share of this segment is mainly due to the very high volumes of small motors for air-to-air missiles, PAC-3 MSE interceptors, air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons, and guided rockets.
- However, the Medium segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
- The rapid growth of this segment is attributed to THAAD, Standard Missile, PrSM, and hypersonic programs, which use high-value medium motors.
By Propellant Type
- The Composite Propellant segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market, owing to the use of composite propellants in almost all medium and large motors and in many tactical motors.
- However, the Advanced & Reduced-Hazard Propellant segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period, from a small base.
- The rapid growth of this segment is attributed to insensitive munitions requirements, environmental regulation, and new motor programs.
By Case Material
- The Metallic Case segment is expected to account for the larger share of the market, owing to the use of metallic cases in high-volume tactical motors and guided artillery rockets.
- However, the Composite Case segment is projected to register the higher CAGR during the forecast period.
- The rapid growth of this segment is attributed to interceptors, hypersonic boosters, and new launch vehicle boosters that require lightweight composite cases.
By End User
- The Defense Forces segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market, reflecting the dominance of missiles, interceptors, rocket artillery, and strategic systems in motor demand.
- The Defense Forces segment is also projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by multiyear munitions procurement and rising defense budgets.
Geographic analysis
North America
Largest shareIn 2026, North America is expected to account for the largest share of the global Solid Rocket Motor Market, with the U.S. the largest individual country market. The region's dominance is supported by the largest defense budget in the world, the largest missile and interceptor production programs, and major strategic, hypersonic, and space programs. The U.S. merchant motor industry is dominated by Northrop Grumman and L3Harris, joined by new entrants such as Anduril Industries, Ursa Major, and X-Bow Systems and by foreign-owned manufacturers such as Nammo and Avio building new U.S. capacity, while Canada has a smaller industry focused on rockets and sounding rockets. The U.S. is also projected to grow faster than Canada within the region. North America
Middle East & Africa
Fastest growthHowever, the Middle East & Africa is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of this region is attributed to accelerated interceptor production in Israel, including the approved acceleration of Arrow interceptor production in 2026, and missile localization in the Gulf and Türkiye. Israel's merchant motor supplier Tomer supplies propulsion systems for air and missile defense interceptors, artillery rockets, and space launch, Türkiye has a large and growing missile industry led by Roketsan, and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are developing domestic missile and munitions production as part of economic diversification. Israel is the largest market in the region, while Saudi Arabia is projected to be the fastest-growing. Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific is expected to account for the second-largest share of the market, combining a large industrial base with a smaller traded market, as a significant part of regional motor production takes place within vertically integrated missile and space groups. China has the largest motor industry in the region, Japan and South Korea have established merchant motor suppliers such as IHI Aerospace and Hanwha Aerospace, India has a mix of government, public sector, and private producers, including Premier Explosives, and Australia is establishing a domestic motor capability supported by an AUD 126.9 million commitment in April 2026. China is the largest market in the region, while Australia is projected to be the fastest-growing, from a very small base. Asia-Pacific
Europe
Europe has a well-established solid rocket motor industry that supplies European missile makers and, increasingly, U.S. programs. Nammo in Norway supplies motors for AMRAAM, ESSM, IRIS-T, and Naval Strike Missile, Roxel, a wholly owned subsidiary of MBDA with sites in France and the U.K., supplies motors for Aster, Exocet, MICA, Meteor, and CAMM, Bayern-Chemie in Germany is restarting Patriot GEM-T motor production, and Avio in Italy supplies air defense motors and P120C booster components. NATO allies' commitment to raise defense and security-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 supports regional demand. Russia is the largest market in the region on an indicative basis, while Poland is projected to be the fastest-growing. Europe
Latin America
Latin America accounts for the smallest share of the global market. The regional market is led by Brazil, which has a missile and rocket industry and a space program with solid-propellant sounding rockets and launch vehicle development, while other countries rely mainly on imported missiles and have limited motor production. Demand is expected to grow moderately with defense modernization and Brazilian space activities, although limited defense budgets and the small scale of domestic industry constrain growth. Latin America
Competitive landscape
The global Solid Rocket Motor Market is highly concentrated, with a small number of qualified manufacturers supplying most merchant motors and state-owned producers in China and Russia accounting for a large share on an indicative basis. Competitive positions increasingly depend on available production capacity, qualification on high-growth programs such as PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, Standard Missile, GMLRS, and hypersonic systems, and access to energetic materials and skilled labor.
Northrop Grumman held the leading position in the market in 2025, followed by L3Harris Technologies and IHI Aerospace. Between January 2025 and September 2026, the 15 profiled companies announced 25 developments related to solid rocket motors, led by contracts and agreements such as multiyear framework agreements, second-source awards, and export orders, followed by capacity expansions, investments and funding, product developments, and partnerships, and governments played an unusually large role through direct equity investment and Defense Production Act funding. New entrants and allied manufacturers building U.S. capacity, including Anduril Industries, Ursa Major, X-Bow Systems, Nammo, and Avio, are expected to broaden the supplier base during the forecast period.
The report provides a comprehensive competitive assessment of the leading companies operating in the global Solid Rocket Motor Market. The key players profiled in the report include Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Nammo AS (Norway), Avio S.p.A. (Italy), Roxel (France/U.K.), Bayern-Chemie GmbH (Germany), ArianeGroup (France), IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd. (Japan), Tomer (Israel), Hanwha Aerospace Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Anduril Industries, Inc. (U.S.), X-Bow Systems (U.S.), Ursa Major Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (U.S.), and Premier Explosives Limited (India).
- Northrop Grumman
- L3Harris Technologies
- Nammo
- Avio
- Roxel
- Bayern-Chemie
- ArianeGroup
- IHI Aerospace
- Tomer
- Hanwha Aerospace
- Anduril Industries
- X-Bow Systems
- Ursa Major Technologies
- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems
- Premier Explosives
Expert perspectives
Solid rocket motors have become a pacing item for missile and interceptor production, with demand set by multiyear munitions procurement and supply limited by a thin industrial base. The market is projected to grow from USD 10,683.8 million in 2026 to USD 22,566.3 million by 2036, with hypersonic systems, missile defense interceptors, medium motors, composite cases, and reduced-hazard propellants growing faster than the market as a whole.
Three structural changes are expected to shape the market through 2036. First, the supplier base will broaden beyond the two established U.S. producers as new entrants and allied manufacturers qualify on major programs, particularly in the second half of the forecast period. Second, governments will remain directly involved through equity investment, Defense Production Act funding, and multiyear contracts that underwrite capacity. Third, production will spread geographically as Europe, Australia, India, South Korea, and the Gulf build domestic motor capabilities.
For companies planning entry or expansion, the most attractive positions over the forecast period are likely to be found in interceptor and tactical motors with second-source opportunities, hypersonic boosters, composite cases, reduced-hazard propellants, and energetic material supply. The principal risks are qualification timelines, energetic material constraints, safety and permitting, workforce availability, and dependence on annual defense appropriations.
Customer perspectives
Insights gathered during primary interviews with missile prime contractors, motor manufacturers, defense procurement officials, and launch vehicle companies highlight where priorities are shifting. The following perspectives reflect recurring themes raised across these discussions.
This reflects limited production capacity and the push for second sources.
This points to multiyear procurement and government investment as enablers of capacity expansion.
This highlights new-entrant opportunities alongside qualification and supply constraints.
“Motors are now the long-lead item in almost every interceptor program. Qualifying a second source has become a priority rather than an option.”
“Multiyear contracts give suppliers the confidence to invest. Without them, new mixing and casting capacity simply does not get built.”
“Automation lets us build motors faster, but qualification and energetic material supply still decide how quickly we reach full-rate production.”
Frequently asked questions
The global Solid Rocket Motor Market is estimated at USD 10,683.8 million in 2026.
Cite this report
Meticulous Research. (2026). Solid Rocket Motor Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast (2026-2036) (Report No. MR-2236). Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/solid-rocket-motor-market-6919