- The Air Force Research Laboratory and Ursa Major conducted a flight of the Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator powered by the Draper liquid rocket engine, reaching supersonic speed during testing.
- The demonstration validated concepts for rapidly developing and producing missile systems using throttleable liquid rocket propulsion.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Ursa Major conducted a flight of the Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator (ARMD), achieving supersonic speeds and demonstrating operational concepts for the missile powered by the Draper liquid rocket engine.
The test flight was carried out as part of a program focused on developing rapidly deployable and lower-cost missile technologies.
According to information released by AFRL and Ursa Major, the flight demonstrated the Draper liquid rocket engine operating in a supersonic missile platform while validating concepts of operation for the system.
“This project proves that we can transform and leverage our acquisition models to rapidly deliver critical technology advancements to deter and win in a future conflict,” said AFRL Commander and Air Force Technology Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei.
“We are not just building a single missile; we are forging a new path toward a cost-effective, mass-producible deterrent for the nation,” Bartolomei added.
According to the announcement, the ARMD vehicle is designed as a demonstration platform for testing propulsion technologies and operational concepts related to rapid missile production.
The project also highlights cooperation between AFRL and private industry partners in developing propulsion systems for next-generation missile platforms.
Ursa Major, the company responsible for the Draper liquid rocket engine used in the flight, emphasized the speed at which the program moved from contract to flight testing.
“This flight proves that you can get a vehicle with a safe, storable and throttleable liquid engine in the air quickly and affordably,” said Chris Spagnoletti, Chief Executive Officer of Ursa Major.
“We went from contract to flight-ready of an all up round and propulsion system in just eight months,” Spagnoletti said.
According to the companies involved, the Draper engine builds on earlier work carried out by Ursa Major on the Hadley liquid rocket engine. The Draper system is intended to provide a throttleable liquid propulsion solution that can be integrated into missile platforms.
Liquid rocket engines differ from solid rocket motors used in many tactical missiles. Liquid propulsion systems store propellants separately and mix them during operation, allowing greater control over thrust levels and engine performance.
A throttleable liquid engine allows engineers to adjust thrust during flight rather than relying on a fixed burn profile typical of solid-fuel rockets. This flexibility can support testing different flight profiles and may allow new operational concepts for missile systems.
The ARMD flight was designed to validate how such propulsion systems could operate in a missile platform while also examining how quickly new systems can move from development to flight testing.
AFRL officials described the program as part of broader efforts to accelerate the development of defense technologies through public-private collaboration.
“ARMD represents a key milestone in our efforts to develop revolutionary, affordable and scalable liquid rocket engine technologies to win the wars of tomorrow,” said AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division Chief Dr. Javier Urzay.
Ursa Major is currently under contract with AFRL to continue advancing the characterization of the Draper liquid rocket engine through additional flight testing.