Rocket, Hydra 70, All Types

The Rocket, Hydra 70, All Types program is a key line item in the Army's ammunition procurement budget, supporting the acquisition of both unguided and guided aviation rockets for use across the Department of Defense (DoD) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Managed by the Aviation Rockets and Small Guided Munitions Product Office, this program ensures the availability of munitions to meet operational, training, and war reserve requirements for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations, and allied nations.

The program provides a reliable supply of rockets that deliver combat overmatch capability and support a wide range of mission profiles, including anti-materiel, anti-personnel, suppression, illumination, and precision strike operations.

The AMMO-Hydra, Aviation Rocket Procurement, Unguided line specifically funds the procurement of unguided Hydra-70 rockets. These rockets are used primarily for air-to-ground missions and are integrated on both manned and unmanned platforms. The objectives for this line include meeting Title 10 war reserve requirements, supporting Combatant Commander Operational Plans, homeland defense, and other OSD-directed missions. Additionally, the program supports training and testing needs for both active and reserve components.

Base funding is allocated for government management and production engineering, while Overseas Operations Costs (OOC) support the procurement of unguided Hydra-70 rockets. Key procurement activities for the unguided rocket line include hardware production, performance and acceptance testing, and program office support. The program also addresses obsolescence, safety, reliability, and integration issues, as well as the acquisition of lifetime buys for obsolete components and repair kits.

The Radford Army Ammunition Plant (AAP) plays a critical role in producing the MK90 propellant grain for these rockets, with funding allocated for the operation and maintenance of this essential facility. The program is subject to Section 806 of the National Defense Authorization Act, which mandates procurement from Radford AAP to sustain the industrial base for ammunition production.

The Aviation Rocket Procurement, Guided line funds the acquisition of guided Hydra-70 rocket variants, which feature enhanced accuracy for precision strikes against lightly armored and soft targets. The guided systems are particularly valuable for missions requiring strict adherence to rules of engagement and minimizing collateral damage. OOC funding supports the procurement of guided Hydra-70 rockets, with contract management handled by the Navy. The guided rocket line also supports engineering changes, guidance section testing, and repair kits, ensuring continued reliability and effectiveness of these advanced munitions.

Production engineering and program management costs are shared between the unguided and guided rocket lines, with allocations based on the quantities procured by each service. The program office maintains a consistent level of effort each year to address ongoing production, integration, and testing requirements. The industrial base for Hydra-70 rockets faces challenges due to procurement quantities below the minimum sustainment rate, which can lead to increased unit costs and reduced surge capacity in times of heightened demand.

Contracting for the Hydra-70 rocket system is primarily conducted through sole source, firm-fixed-price agreements with General Dynamics (for unguided rockets) and BAE Systems (for guided rockets). The Army is exploring Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contract vehicles to improve procurement quality and schedule, in line with Executive Order #14222. The program also leverages price advantages from contract negotiations, other service procurement, and FMS to maximize rocket procurement and address safety, reliability, affordability, and obsolescence concerns.