ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the commercial and military relations of the export of solid rocket technology from Lockheed to South Korea, and the additional export of a Ferranti Inertial Navigation System. Lockheed opened its solid rocket propellant (perchlorate) test ground at Potrero, Southern California, in 1964. Under US Air Force contract the company produced significant research into large Solid Rocket Motors, the biggest being 156 inch+es (3.96 metres) in diameter, and other military programmes. In 1974 Lockheed fell into financial difficulty and faced the international bribery scandal. The Potrero site was closed, and the propellant plant put up for sale. A bid was placed by South Korea, but this triggered an objection on grounds of arms control to the Ford administration. After briefing from the CIA and the US Ambassador to Seoul, the sale of the plant and safety instructions was agreed and took place the following year. South Korea then opened negotiations with the British company Ferranti to buy its Inertial Navigation System. Today South Korea has both its own military missile and civilian space vehicle capability using solid rocket motor technology, and the Potrero site is still undergoing decontamination.
