Ursa Major signs contract with the US Navy for solid rocket motors

Ursa Major has signed a contract with the Naval Energetics Systems and Technologies (NEST) program to develop a prototype solid rocket motor for the U.S. Navy’s Standard Missile Program and conducted hot-fire testing. Ursa Major relies on 3D printing for development and production.

In cooperation with the Navy’s Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) 3.0, the Naval Air Warfare Center – Weapons Division in China Lake and the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head, Ursa Major will develop a new design and apply the company’s revolutionary manufacturing process to the Mk 104 dual-thrust rocket motor, the Navy’s workhorse.

The Mk 104 SRM powers the Navy’s SM arsenal, including the SM-2 for air defense, the SM-3 for ballistic missile defense and the SM-6, an anti-air, land and sea missile. In 2022, the Missile Defense Agency declared that the SM-6 was the only missile capable of intercepting maneuverable hypersonic missiles.

Although the Mk 104 is a high performance engine, manufacturing the legacy models is a challenge. Ursa Major will utilize the innovative Lynx production process for SRMs and employ additive manufacturing to design a powerful, easily manufacturable and reliable engine.

“We are proud of the Navy’s support and recognition of Ursa Major as a trusted partner to develop the next generation of Mk 104 solid rocket motors,” said Ursa Major founder and CEO Joe Laurienti. “Our new approach to manufacturing SRMs allows Ursa Major to quickly develop high-performing motors at scale, driving volume and cost efficiencies to address this critical national need.”

“PEO IWS is excited to work with Ursa Major on this effort to bolster a critical component of the Nation’s industrial base,” said Captain Thomas Seigenthaler, the director of PEO IWS 3.0. “The production of solid rocket motors is a top priority, and we are impressed with Ursa Major’s innovative approach to address manufacturing challenges.”