#United States #Ursa Major #Berthoud #Rocket Motors #Navy Contracts

U.S. Navy Invests in Advanced Rocket Motor Technology

On October 5, 2026, Ursa Major announced that it has secured two substantial contracts from the U.S. Navy, which collectively amount to $137 million. This funding, provided through the Office of the Under Secretary of War (OUSW), aims to enhance the development and qualification of advanced tactical solid rocket motors for two key programs: the Compact Air-to-Air Missile (CAAM) and the Naval Modular Missile (NMM).

Ursa Major’s innovative manufacturing approach, known as the Lynx method, will be utilized to expand the company’s energetic production capacity. The company plans to apply advanced additive manufacturing techniques to produce tactical motors efficiently and at scale.

Addressing Production Challenges

Jason Meredith, the president of Solid Missile Systems at Ursa Major, emphasized the importance of this investment, noting that it not only builds the Navy’s solid rocket motor capabilities but also accelerates the development of critical air and naval capabilities. "Production is currently a bottleneck in missile programs," Meredith stated, highlighting Ursa Major's commitment to improving this aspect of defense manufacturing.

The contracts designate $91 million for the CAAM's solid rocket motor, along with $46 million earmarked for the NMM program. The CAAM is designed to be an air-launched missile compatible with both current and next-generation aircraft. Ursa Major is focused on creating a high-performance, compact, and low-cost 7-inch solid rocket motor that meets strict performance criteria while maintaining low unit costs by utilizing Highly Loaded Grain technology.

In parallel, Ursa Major’s efforts for the NMM involve developing a 10-inch solid rocket motor suitable for high-rate production. This motor is also intended to be compatible with existing U.S. Navy shipboard launch systems. The overarching goal of these developments is to deliver operational motors that conform to Navy performance and safety requirements while enabling high production volumes annually.

Expanding on Previous Collaborations

These recent contracts build on Ursa Major’s existing relationship with the Navy. Earlier in July 2026, the Navy awarded the company $10 million to progress its MK 104 design through critical design review and static fire testing phases for the Standard Missile family. Furthermore, earlier in the year, in February, Ursa Major successfully concluded a $25 million cost-sharing program, the Solid Rocket Motor Manufacturing Pathfinder Program, with the Navy and the Office of Strategic Capital.

This involved designing, building, and static-firing a 10-inch Highly Loaded Grain motor and developing a proprietary propellant. These initiatives were collaboratively executed in partnership with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division.

About Ursa Major

Founded in Berthoud, Colorado, Ursa Major is an aerospace and defense manufacturer specializing in flight-proven capabilities for solid rocket motors, hypersonics, and space mobility systems. They are revolutionizing the defense industrial base for the United States and its allies, emphasizing speedy delivery of critical technologies that support rapid operational requirements. The company also operates additive manufacturing facilities in Youngstown, Ohio, where they implement advanced production techniques across various domains—land, air, sea, and space. For those interested in learning more about Ursa Major's capabilities and future projects, more information is available on their website at www.ursamajor.com.