What Happened
Rare Regulatory Battle Over Solid Rocket Motor Business
Northrop Grumman has petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to remove restrictions on its solid rocket motor business, a move opposed by Lockheed Martin. The FTC’s decision could have significant implications for the defense industrial base and the Pentagon’s efforts to ramp up missile production. Northrop argues that the market has become more competitive since the 2018 consent order, while Lockheed claims that the restrictions are still necessary to prevent discrimination in the supply of large SRMs. The petition was first reported by Breaking Defense.