By providing technologies that help put people and satellites in space, and protecting the armed service around the world as they protect our freedoms at home, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD) continuously seeks to improve the lives of people.
EBAD’s satellite HDRM’s have the broadest use in the US and European space market, having been used on over 500 platforms to date. EBAD has designed, qualified and delivered more HRDMs for spaceflight applications than anyone else in the world.
For almost 60 years, EBAD has supplied initiation, separation, and flight destruct hardware for commercial and government launches.
The need for precise explosive solutions is essential to the success of every mission. That is why since 1836, EBAD has been the technology innovator and industry leader in Military Demolition, Breaching and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) products.
EBAD is the industry leader for highly reliable precision ordnance solutions. For nearly 60 years, our products have directly contributed to thousands of successful missions on Strategic Missile, Missile Defense, and Tactical Missile platforms.
We are constantly investing in our future at Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense. It is our safety-first commitment that allows us to protect our people, facilities, and customers. Whatever your next mission is, EBAD is here to deliver top-of-the-line solutions and innovations. EBAD – Right for Your Mission™.
Simsbury, CT – Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense (EBAD), a trusted name in the space and defense industry, has announced a major milestone: the successful qualification of its NEA® Payload Release Module (PRM™) for use in 4-point spacecraft dispensing applications.
The PRM™ mechanism has been designed to meet the demanding standards of the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rideshare Payload User’s Guide (RPUG). This positions EBAD’s PRM™ as one of the few systems aligned with Falcon 9’s rigorous benchmarks for low-shock, redundant, and precise separation systems—an achievement that holds significant importance for spacecraft manufacturers and mission planners.
This milestone is more than just a technical win. It signals a shift in how payload release systems are engineered for cost-effective, reliable rideshare missions—an area of growing importance as demand for affordable access to space surges. EBAD’s 4-point release mechanism not only minimizes shock to protect delicate spacecraft components but also ensures redundancy and precise control, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in modern space launches.
The PRM™ family includes mechanisms tailored to handle lateral deployments of spacecraft weighing 150kg up to 2000kg, offering customers flexibility and reliability for diverse mission profiles.
“At EBAD, we pride ourselves on supporting our customers’ missions with reliable, cost-effective solutions that deliver spacecrafts to orbit,” said Chad Thompson, Vice President, Business Development and M&A at EBAD. “Our PRM™ mechanism is a testament to our dedication to ingenuity and our ability to adapt to the ever-evolving needs of the space industry.”
As a privately owned space and defense business, EBAD focuses on providing hold down release mechanisms that delivers unmatched reliability. The PRM™ mechanisms are an extension of EBAD’s low-shock NEA® mechanisms, which have more than 25-years of flawless history deploying solar arrays, reflectors, and instruments on more than 1,000 spacecraft.
The company’s expertise and proven performance have made it a trusted partner for customers looking to achieve mission success without incurring additional non-recurring development time or cost.
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About Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense
Headquartered in Simsbury, CT, with facilities in Graham, KY, and Moorpark, CA, EBAD brings over 180 years of expertise in space and defense sectors. As a leader in Hold Down and Release Mechanisms (HDRMs) through its NEA® and TiNi™ lines, EBAD has achieved 100% mission success over decades, with nearly 10,000 mechanisms deployed in space. Trusted by US and European space markets, EBAD delivers tailored solutions for critical missions.
