Ursa Major Unveils 'HAVOC' Hypersonic Missile
Aerospace startup Ursa Major has unveiled a new hypersonic missile called HAVOC, designed for multi-domain operations. The modular weapon system, powered by a Draper engine, is intended for rapid production and can operate both inside and outside the atmosphere. It can be launched from fighters, bombers, and ground-based platforms, according to company materials.
The HAVOC's Draper engine represents a significant shift from typical hypersonic propulsion. Instead of solid rocket motors that burn until fuel is exhausted, the Draper is a liquid-fueled engine that can be throttled, shut down, and restarted in flight. This provides a level of maneuverability and unpredictability during the boost phase that is uncommon in current systems. The engine utilizes storable, non-cryogenic propellants—specifically hydrogen peroxide and kerosene—which can be kept at room temperature for extended periods. This design avoids the complexities and handling requirements of cryogenic fuels and the "light-and-go" nature of solid rockets, offering the tactical readiness of a solid motor with the flexibility of a liquid engine. This also contributes to a claimed 10-year shelf life. Ursa Major is heavily leveraging additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, to produce over 80% of the HAVOC's components. This strategy is central to the company's goal of rapid, scalable production, aiming to significantly shorten manufacturing timelines and reduce the part count. The company's new CEO, Chris Spagnoletti, has emphasized that this approach is key to delivering capability to the warfighter quickly and in quantity. This production method also targets a key barrier in hypersonic development: cost. Spagnoletti has stated an ambitious target price of under $3 million per missile. By operating at higher altitudes where the atmosphere is thinner, HAVOC is also designed to reduce the extreme heat loading typical of hypersonic flight, which lessens the need for expensive and complex thermal protection systems. Founded in 2015 by former SpaceX and Blue Origin engineer Joe Laurienti, Ursa Major has focused exclusively on propulsion. The Colorado-based startup has raised over $497 million in funding from investors like BlackRock and Eclipse. This specialization has allowed them to supply engines, like the Hadley, to other aerospace companies such as Stratolaunch for its Talon-A hypersonic testbed. HAVOC enters a competitive field where the U.S. is developing several other hypersonic weapons, including the Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), the Air Force's Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), and the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS). These programs are part of a broader push to counter the advancements made by Russia and China, which are perceived to have fielded operational hypersonic systems.
