Draper is a tactical, storable liquid rocket engine designed for hypersonic missions, rapid response operations and in-space manoeuvrability. It combines the storability of a solid rocket motor with restart capability, throttle control and precision manoeuvrability, while being built with a low part count and nearly two-thirds additively manufactured components.
“As adversaries increase their activity in space and missile defense becomes more multidomain, Draper provides the responsiveness, control, and flexibility required for the U.S. to defend against emerging threats,” said Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major. “As a high-speed, affordable mass propulsion system, Draper represents a paradigm shift in defense propulsion on land, at sea, in the air, and now, in space.”
The award follows a $28.6 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, under which Ursa Major is developing a tactical flight demonstrator to showcase Draper’s hypersonic applications by the end of this year. That programme highlights the company’s rapid, production-ready design approach.
Draper has been hot fired more than 250 times and runs on non-cryogenic, non-toxic propellants with a closed catalyst cycle. The engine is reusable, safe, and storable for at least 10 years, with additive manufacturing employed to reduce cost and complexity while accelerating timelines.
