Ursa Major Powers AFRL's ARMD Flight
Ursa Major announced the successful first flight of AFRL's Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator (ARMD), powered by their Draper storable liquid rocket engine. The missile achieved supersonic speeds in just eight months from contract to flight, showcasing rapid and cost-effective propulsion for hypersonics and defense.
The Draper engine, which powered the ARMD, is a 4,000-pound thrust closed catalyst cycle engine using hydrogen peroxide and kerosene. This allows for storable propellants, making it ideal for vehicles needing on-demand launch capabilities. Unlike Ursa Major's Hadley engine, Draper doesn't require cryogenic conditions for its fuel. The ARMD program is a public-private partnership designed to accelerate research and development of defense technologies. AFRL Commander Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei stated the project proves the ability to "transform and leverage our acquisition models to rapidly deliver critical technology advancements". The goal is to forge a path toward a cost-effective, mass-producible deterrent for the nation. Ursa Major CEO Chris Spagnoletti highlighted the program's speed, noting the move from contract to flight-ready status in just eight months. The Draper engine offers active throttle control and range, providing maneuverability for hypersonic defense. Ursa Major is also under contract with AFRL to continue Draper engine flight testing. The Series E funding round in November 2025 secured $100 million for Ursa Major and an additional $50 million in debt funding. This investment supports scaling manufacturing and production across product lines, including hypersonic systems. Ursa Major also reported over $115 million in bookings through the first three quarters of 2025, including partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense, AFRL, Stratolaunch, and BAE Systems. Ursa Major, founded in 2015, specializes in advanced rocket propulsion systems. The company has raised over $372 million across multiple funding rounds. Ursa Major leverages advanced production techniques and flexible architectures to build scalable systems for land, air, sea, and space domains.
