Rocket propulsion startup Ursa Major secures $12.5M from Pentagon to boost solid rocket engine production

Ursa Major, a rocket propulsion startup that uses 3-D printing to make rocket motors, has secured a $12.5 million contract from the Pentagon to ramp up production and testing of new solid-fuel rocket engines.

This deal is part of a larger push by the Pentagon to expand its pool of rocket suppliers as munitions supplies dwindle from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.

The contract award comes less than a year after Ursa Major raised $138 million in Series D and D-1 funding from RTX Ventures, BlackRock, and Explorer 1 Fund to advance production for rocket launches and hypersonic vehicles, marking its expansion into a defense-focused market.

Founded in 2015 by CEO Joe Laurienti, the Berthoud, Colorado-based Ursa Major develops rocket engines designed for space launches and hypersonic vehicles. The company supplies propulsion systems for key missions spanning commercial and government sectors, and a range of space applications.

This award marks a notable move by the Office of Strategic Capital, a newly formed fund aimed at boosting public-private partnerships in key technology areas for national security. It represents some of the initial funds allocated to support the defense supply chain’s industrial base.

The Navy is also backing the $12.5 million award, with Ursa Major matching this amount, resulting in a total $25 million boost to the company’s solid rocket motor capabilities. The funding will help Ursa Major refine its manufacturing process under the Office of Strategic Capital’s Transition Acceleration Program, which focuses on developing future defense technologies.

Separately, the Navy awarded another contract earlier this year to meet growing demand for the M104 engine, used in RTX Corp’s Standard Missile series, Reuters reported.

Ursa Major’s share of the investment will be used to complete an Advanced Manufacturing Pathfinder program, covering the design, manufacture, and testing of a solid rocket motor prototype.

In a field largely led by giants like SpaceX and Boeing, Ursa Major is carving out a vital role in strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base. As highlighted on its website, Ursa Major is the first U.S. company to successfully test an oxygen-rich staged combustion engine—a feat previously accomplished only by Russian manufacturers.

The company offers reusable, high-performance propulsion systems tailored for commercial space ventures, defense contractors, and the Department of Defense, supporting everything from rocket launches to hypersonic vehicles and national security missions.

Credit: Ursa Major