Ursa Major has announced a significant victory in the aerospace sector, securing a contract worth $34.9 million to provide Draper rocket engines aimed at enhancing space-based national security missions. This latest development underscores the company’s growing influence in defense propulsion technologies.
Draper is described as a storable liquid engine designed for hypersonic operations and rapid maneuvers in orbit. One of its key advantages over traditional solid rocket motors is its ability to restart and adjust thrust, facilitating precise maneuvers while maintaining a shelf life of over a decade. The engine’s design incorporates extensive 3D printing techniques, resulting in reduced parts and costs, while it operates on non-cryogenic, non-toxic propellants.
Dan Jablonsky, the CEO of Ursa Major, emphasized the importance of the Draper engine amid increasing adversarial activity in space. He highlighted its capabilities in providing the necessary responsiveness, control, and flexibility to enhance the U.S. defense posture against emerging threats. Jablonsky further described Draper as a high-speed, affordable mass propulsion system that represents a transformative shift in defense propulsion across multiple domains, including land, sea, air, and space.
Ursa Major’s recent contract is part of an expanding portfolio in U.S. defense propulsion programs, including pivotal contracts centered around hypersonic systems and advanced engine manufacturing. This new contract follows a $28.6 million award from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, which tasked Ursa Major with demonstrating the Draper engine in flight by the end of the year.
Earlier in June, Ursa Major secured a $32.9 million deal with Stratolaunch, aimed at supplying 16 Hadley H13 engines for hypersonic test flights in support of the U.S. Navy’s MACH-TB program. Additionally, a collaboration with RTX resulted in successful flight tests of a new solid rocket motor at China Lake, notable for powering an RTX missile with a motor measuring under 10 inches in diameter.
Earlier in 2024, Ursa Major also entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy to develop a 3D-printed replacement for the Mk-104 dual rocket motor, which is utilized in various missile systems, including the SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6. This initiative aims to leverage Ursa’s “Lynx” additive manufacturing process to decrease production time and boost reliability, further establishing the company’s commitment to innovative propulsion solutions in defense.
