Draper supersonic test succeeds
An Air Force Research Lab–Draper supersonic test flight of an Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator, powered by a Draper liquid rocket engine, completed and bolstered confidence in rapid-prototype propulsion tech. The flight underscores the industry trend toward simulation‑driven design paired tightly with fast flight validation. (texasborderbusiness.com)
The demonstrator was staged for flight on Jan. 27, 2026, when the Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator (ARMD) was loaded onto a Transportable Target Launcher for the supersonic trial. (ursamajor.com) AFRL and Ursa Major public statements say the program moved from contract award to a flight‑ready all‑up round and propulsion system in just eight months, a timeline cited by AFRL Commander Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei and Ursa Major CEO Chris Spagnoletti. (afrl.af.mil) The Draper engine is a storable, closed‑catalyst‑cycle liquid rocket producing roughly 4,000 lbf of thrust and running on hydrogen‑peroxide/kerosene propellants to enable on‑demand launches, throttling, and multiple restarts. (ursamajor.com) The Draper effort sits on a funded AFRL contract valued at about $28.56 million to advance the engine toward flight demonstrations and responsive‑space/hypersonic applications. (airforce-technology.com) Ursa Major says Draper development draws on Hadley engine heritage (more than 100 Hadley engines produced) and that Draper has undergone more than 200 hot‑fire tests prior to the flight demonstration. (ursamajor.com) Major elements of Draper are produced using additive manufacturing, with the company reporting roughly two‑thirds of components 3D‑printed to speed iteration and scale production for tactical, storable liquid propulsion use cases. (ursamajor.com)
