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Defdex

Supply-chain input · Material

Ammonium perchlorate

Oxidizer that makes up most of the mass of composite solid rocket propellant.

CriticalMaterialPart of Energetic materials
Producers
1
0 consumers tracked
Upstream
0
1 downstream
Needed by
1
1 technologies · 0 products
Trade controls
0
None recorded
Sources
3
Cited on this page

Constraint

Why supply is constrained

Critical

AMPAC's Cedar City plant is the only DoD-approved domestic source of AP for weapons motors. Northrop Grumman was approved as an alternative source for space launch in 2021. AMPAC is adding a line to raise capacity by more than 50%.

Producers1

Capacity and global share as reported; shares from different years and sources may not add up. Bars compare producers on this page only.

Dependencies

Upstream · needs · 0

No upstream inputs recorded.

This input

Ammonium perchlorate

Critical

Downstream · needed by · 1

Upstream: what this input is made from or processed with. Downstream: what is made from it.

Who needs it1

Supply deals2

Supplier to customer relationships
SupplierCustomerForNotesConf.
American Pacific CorporationL3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne——Confirmed
American Pacific CorporationNorthrop Grumman—Buyer named as ATK Launch Systems (legacy Orbital ATK, now Northrop Grumman).Confirmed

Facilities1

Sources3

Profile1

  1. 1
    ResearchSolid Rocket Motors for Missile Defense: Challenges and Opportunities for Expanding the Industrial Base

    Center for Strategic and International Studies · Jun 12, 2026 · Supports Input

    “Although AMPAC remains the leading supplier of AP for weapons programs, Northrop Grumman has become an alternative source for space launch applications following approval in 2021.”

Supply chain2

  1. 2
    CompanyAmerican Pacific Corporation Finalizes $100 Million Capacity Expansion With Parent Company Approval

    SpaceNews (AMPAC release) · Jun 11, 2025 · Supports Organization input

    “The investment will support the construction of a new production line at AMPAC's Cedar City, Utah facility, increasing capacity by more than 50%.”
  2. 3
    Government recordAudit of Purchases of Ammonium Perchlorate Through Subcontracts With a Single DoD-Approved Domestic Supplier (DODIG-2020-095)

    DoD Office of Inspector General · Jul 9, 2020 · Supports Input, Organization input, Supply relationship

    “The only DoD-approved domestic AP1 supplier is the American Pacific Corporation (AMPAC).”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.