Napier Rocket Products – Introduction

D Napier & Son were involved in the production and testing of a variety of Rocket Motors and Ramjet technologies. This work was undertaken at the Napier Flight Development Establishment in Luton.

A 100lb thrust mono-propellant rocket was fired in June 1949 numbered NRE 1. The following year Napier won a contract with the National Gas Turbine Establishment (N.G.T.E.) of the Ministry of Supply to develop and produce a variety of rocket engines which were used in a number of different applications creating 20 designs reaching a maximum 40,000 lb thrust.

Napiers most famous rocket product was probably the Napier Scorpion rocket motor which was initially developed but not deployed as a booster unit for the English Electric Lightning. It was successfully fitted in the EE Canbera WK163 which broke the World Altitude record for an aircraft in 1957.

As well as rockets Napier Luton also became involved with the production of a series of experimental Ramjets.

The links below describe the various rocket products manufactured by the Company.

Test Firing Rocket motor at Luton FDE 1952. Luton image 5891
Rocket Engines
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