Ursa Major Technologies, a Colorado-based rocket propulsion startup, announced the successful flight test of one of its solid rocket motors on a Raytheon-built missile for the U.S. Army. The test, conducted on December 18th, involved a motor approximately 10 inches in diameter, integrated into an undisclosed missile system. CEO Dan Jablonsky highlighted the significance of this milestone, emphasizing the growing demand for weapons systems and the subsequent need for new suppliers within the defense industry.
The increased demand, fueled by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, is pushing weapons manufacturers to diversify their sources of solid rocket motors. Traditionally, this market has been dominated by Northrop Grumman and L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne. Raytheon, a significant investor in Ursa Major through RTX Ventures, participated in the company's $138 million funding round in 2023. Raytheon is particularly interested in Ursa Major's 3D manufacturing capabilities to reduce costs and speed up munitions production.
“We are poised to scale the production of higher-performing solid rocket motors at the pace and volume the country requires,” stated Jablonsky during a media briefing. Ursa Major's product line includes motors ranging from 2 to 22.5 inches in diameter, catering to the specifications of numerous tactical weapon systems currently in high demand.
Further bolstering its capabilities, Ursa Major recently received a $12.5 million investment from the Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital, matched by company funds, to advance its Lynx solid rocket motor manufacturing process. According to Jablonsky, Raytheon plans to conduct additional flight tests in 2025, with qualification anticipated in 2026.