Ursa Major has been awarded a $34.9 million contract to further develop its Draper storable liquid rocket engine for space-based defense applications. The company mentioned that this contract is aimed at accelerating the engine’s deployment and validating its performance under operational conditions.

The Draper engine is designed for hypersonic and in-space missions, offering restart capability, throttle control, and precise maneuvering. Ursa Major highlighted that it operates on non-cryogenic, non-toxic propellants and incorporates a closed catalyst cycle. The engine has already completed over 250 hot-fire tests and is built for a storable life of at least 10 years. The press release also noted that approximately two-thirds of the engine’s components are additively manufactured, which supports cost-efficient production.

Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major, emphasized that the Draper engine provides the responsiveness, flexibility, and control needed to address emerging space threats. He added that it represents a shift in defense propulsion capabilities across multiple domains, including land, sea, air, and space.

The company mentioned that this award builds on a previous $28.6 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop a flight demonstrator of Draper for hypersonic applications. Ursa Major stated that these contracts highlight its ability to rapidly deliver innovative propulsion systems for national security missions.

Ursa Major, headquartered in Berthoud, Colorado, with additive manufacturing operations in Youngstown, Ohio, specializes in propulsion solutions for hypersonics, solid rocket motors, in-space propulsion, and launch vehicles. The company noted that its work contributes to strengthening the defense industrial base for the U.S. and allied nations.