REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The Army has renewed its investment in the Hydra-70 family of 2.75-inch aviation rockets.
June 30 brought the signing of a four-year production contract with General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, out of Charlotte, N.C. The estimated value is $991,701,046.
"I think this has a lot of promise, this caliber, this capability," Maj. Gen. Genaro Dellarocco, the program executive officer for missiles and space, said during the signing ceremony at his headquarters building 5250. "This contract will be very important to do some creative things for deliverables."
Lt. Col. Robert Long is the aviation rockets product manager within Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office. He praised everyone involved in the contract extension process.
"There are so many people that have spent tireless hours," Long said. "I just wanted to give my personal thanks."
Mike Mulligan, president of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, also expressed his appreciation.
"The hard work is delivering (on the requirements)," Mulligan said. "You have our commitment we're going to do everything we can to do everything we can do."
The Army's requirements for Hydra-70 rockets can vary annually.
"We bought 399,904 items in FY '10, which is $278 million (the fiscal 2010 procurement)," Brad Schroer, the Hydra-70 production lead in JAMS Project Office, said. "Items are all up rounds, warhead and motors."
The 2.75 inch Folding Fin Aerial Rocket system was originally designed by the Navy after World War II to replace the 5 inch rocket system. It was used by the Navy, Marines and the Air Force in tactical air to ground roles during the Korean War, Vietnam and in the Middle East.
Most recently, it has contributed in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The system consists of a standard rocket motor that can be fitted with a variety of warheads including high explosive, flechettes, both infrared and visible light flares, as well as a light weight launcher. A non-explosive round is available for training purposes as well.
The latest system configuration was fielded in the 1980s as the Hydra-70 rocket system. The word Hydra refers to the nine-headed serpent of Greek mythology and symbolizes the multiple warhead configurations available. The 70 indicates the number of millimeters when converted from 2.75 inches.
In 1991 the program office moved to Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. In 2002 the program returned to Redstone Arsenal and is managed by the Aviation Rockets Product Office within the JAMS Project Office.
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