WASHINGTON — The Pentagon on Sept. 26 announced three contracts aimed at beefing up U.S. production of solid rocket motors (SRMs), a part of the defense industrial base officials say is vulnerable to supply-chain disruption and under pressure from rising demand.

One award, a four-year, $191.3 million contract, went to X-Bow Launch Systems of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for “advanced integrated motor manufacturing,” the Department of War said. The contract, awarded by the Air Force Test Center, “is for the design, build and demonstration of advanced solid rocket motor propellant manufacturing capability,” the announcement said.

The Air Force Test Center, which runs the Air Force Research Laboratory Rocket Propulsion Division that tests and develops SRMs for missiles and other systems, issued

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