Ursa Major and US Navy Invest $25 Million in SRM Manufacturing

It’s no secret that Ursa Major has been making significant strides in rocket propulsion technology. A few months ago, they saw success with the first flight of their 3D printed Hadley engine, and last November, they unveiled Lynx, a groundbreaking manufacturing pathway for solid rocket motor (SRM) production employing additive manufacturing. Now in the latest update, Ursa Major announced they were making a $25 million joint investment with the US Navy to mature Lynx, a deal that further cements Ursa Major’s relationship with the Department of Defense (DoD). Ursa Major, the Naval Air Weapons Center China Lake, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division are working together on this project.

Ursa Major, based in Colorado, claims to be the nation’s leading company in privately funded rocket propulsion. The DoD selected Ursa Major as a recipient of a $12.5 million investment from the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), and Ursa Major is matching that investment, meaning a $25 million expansion of the company’s SRM capabilities. The $25 million investment will be used to advance manufacturing capability in propellant manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and composite case winding in support of SRMs for national security missions.

Solid rocket motor created with Ursa Major’s Lynx

The OSC’s mission is to increase investments in critical technology areas for national security, and Ursa Major aligns with their goal. CEO of Ursa Major Dan Jablonsky exclaimed his enthusiasm for the deal, saying, “We are proud to work with OSC on their mandate for expanding the defense industrial base by bringing new innovations into the DoD ecosystem.”