Raytheon, Ursa Major say flight test successful for next-gen Army missile motor
Tucson-based Raytheon and Colorado-based Ursa Major have been jointly working to develop affordable, long-range precision munitions for the U.S. Army.
Raytheon’s Tucson-based missile manufacturing operation this week announced a successful test for an advanced long-range military solid rocket motor it is developing with Colorado aerospace propulsion systems maker Ursa Major.
The joint project to advance the next generation of smart munitions for the U.S. Army is moving quickly, said Raytheon — a division of Virginia-based RTX Inc. (Nasdaq: RTX) — thanks to the two companies’ combined experience and expertise in digital engineering.
Speed of development has been an important aspect of the project, which started with an investment RTX Ventures made in Ursa Major in 2023 to explore new rocket motor technologies in response to a call from the Army expressing an urgent need for affordable precision-guided munitions. In addition to affordability and precision, the project also aims to increase range.
Raytheon said it selected Ursa Major to help accomplish this by bringing together both companies’ low-cost component systems and using Ursa Major’s 3D printing systems to develop, manufacture and test the systems at “unprecedented timelines.”
“These long-range solid rocket motors will allow the U.S. Army and allies to strike farther and faster than anything our adversaries have in their arsenals,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, in a statement. “This long-range rocket motor technology fills the essential role of providing affordable precision fires, while increasing range, safety, and magazine depth.”
Besides the missile test, there have already been almost 300 static fire tests of the system this year, Ursa Major CEO Dan Jablonsky said.
“The innovative manufacturing techniques we employ are yielding agile solid rocket motor solutions with the design flexibility needed to expand the capabilities of the U.S. military,” Jablonsky said in a statement. “Ursa Major is poised to scale the production of higher-performing solid rocket motors at the pace and volume the country requires and at a price the country can afford.”
More flight tests are planned in 2025 as the project incorporates manufacturing improvements into its next phase. The goal is to achieve qualification in 2026.
Other Raytheon contracts
The test is one of several recent announcements regarding Raytheon’s Tucson operation:
- On Dec. 19, the U.S. Navy announced Raytheon was awarded a $401,199,552 contract for 131 full rate production Block V Tactical Tomahawk All Up Rounds missiles, with 26 for the Army, 16 for the Marine Corps, 11 for the Commonwealth of Australia, and 78 for the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Tucson, Phoenix and several other locations and is expected to be completed in March 2028.
- Also on Dec. 19, the Navy announced a $42,968,793 contract modification for Raytheon to exercise options for engineering and technical services in support of the Evolved Seasparrow Missile and NATO Seasparrow Missile Systems programs. The contract combines purchases from the Navy along with Japan and South Korea. Most of the work will take place in Tucson and is expected to be completed by December 2025.
- On Dec. 18, the Navy announced Raytheon was awarded a $24,567,544 contract modification to procure components for Megatron obsolescence in support of Standard Missile 6 production. Work will take place in Tucson and other locations and is expected to be completed by February 2027.
- On Nov. 25, the Navy announced Raytheon was awarded a $9,498,070 contract modification to increase the contract ceiling to provide design, development, studies and demonstrations in support of developing and applying new technology to missile and weapons systems for the Navy. The work will take place in Tucson and is expected to be completed by July 2028.
- On Nov. 22, the Navy announced Raytheon was awarded a $439,075,000 contract modification to exercise options for fiscal 2025 Evolved Seasparrow Missile Block II Guided Missile Assemblies. Work will take place in Tucson and several other locations, to be completed by June 2029.
- On Oct. 29, the Navy announced Raytheon was awarded a $118,454,213 contract modification for fiscal 2025 Navy procurements for Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2/2A/2B Guided Missile Round Pack, spare replacement components, and recertification. Work will take place in Tucson and other locations, to be completed by July 2028.