Ursa Major secures $28.6M AFRL contract to develop storable rocket propulsion for hypersonic and space applications, culminating in a flight demonstration.
 |
| Ursa Major will lead a $28.6M U.S. Air Force Research Lab project to demonstrate storable liquid rocket propulsion for future hypersonic and space missions. Image: CH |
DENVER, USA — May 2, 2025:
Ursa Major has been awarded a $28.6 million firm-fixed-price contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to advance propulsion systems for responsive space, hypersonic flight, and on-orbit operations. The contract, managed by AFRL’s Rocket Propulsion Division at Edwards Air Force Base in California, marks a significant step in the Department of Defense’s push to field rapid, scalable, and cost-effective propulsion technologies.
The agreement builds on previous work completed by Ursa Major to mature advanced liquid rocket engines and will culminate in a flight demonstration. As part of the project, the company will serve as the lead integrator for a tactical flight demonstrator showcasing the use of storable liquid rocket systems in hypersonic applications.
“Under this contract, Ursa Major serves as the lead integrator for a tactical flight demonstrator that will prove the ability to use a storable liquid rocket system for hypersonic applications,” said Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major. “Because of their tactical configuration, storable liquid rocket engines like our Draper system offer a unique combination of performance, storability, and scalability at a fraction of the cost of traditional alternatives.”
Central to the effort is Ursa Major’s Draper propulsion system, a 4,000-pound-thrust closed catalyst cycle engine designed for long-term storage and rapid deployment. Draper combines the ease of storable solid motors with the maneuverability and range of liquid systems, making it well-suited for hypersonic missions. It is a tactical variant of the company’s flight-proven Hadley engine, and is aimed at filling critical capability gaps in U.S. hypersonic defense.
Following its development announcement, the Draper engine successfully completed hot-fire testing in May 2024 and has since undergone over 200 hot-fire trials. The upcoming demonstration will mark Draper’s first flight and is expected to validate its performance in real-world mission conditions.
The program highlights AFRL’s commitment to investing in next-generation propulsion technologies that provide enhanced flexibility, responsiveness, and affordability for both national security and space applications.