The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded Ursa Major Technologies a $28.5 million contract for the first flight test of its groundbreaking Draper engine. This high-performance propulsion system is specifically designed for hypersonic missile applications. The contract, announced May 1st, encompasses both the flight demonstration and the engine's integration into a test vehicle, with project completion anticipated by early 2027.
This initiative significantly boosts U.S. capabilities in the realm of hypersonic weapons, a critical area of focus for the Pentagon amidst escalating competition with China and Russia. The Draper engine, developed with Air Force funding, boasts a remarkable 4,000 pounds of thrust. Its unique advantage lies in its utilization of storable, non-cryogenic propellants – a blend of kerosene and hydrogen peroxide – eliminating the need for ultra-low temperature storage and complex cooling systems required by traditional liquid oxygen-based engines.
The military's keen interest in rapid launch capabilities for interceptor missiles, particularly those envisioned for the Golden Dome missile defense architecture, fuels this development. This framework, outlined in a January executive order by the Trump administration, aims to create a multi-layered U.S. missile shield capable of countering high-speed threats, including hypersonic glide vehicles and maneuverable cruise missiles. These vehicles, capable of exceeding five times the speed of sound and altering their trajectory mid-flight, demand agile propulsion systems for both offensive and defensive applications. Ursa Major, based in Berthoud, Colorado, successfully completed ground tests of the Draper engine in 2024. The company, also a producer of the 5,000 pounds-of-thrust Hadley engine for hypersonic test vehicles, stands out as an independent rocket engine supplier, unlike its counterparts in the U.S. aerospace and defense sector, which are often integrated within larger prime contractors.