---
title: "AFRL and Ursa Major complete flight demonstration of Draper liquid rocket engine"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/afrl-and-ursa-major-complete-flight-demonstration-of-draper-liquid-rocket-engine/
date: 2026-03-20
modified: 2026-03-20
lang: en
author: "Joseph Caron-Dawe"
description: "The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Ursa Major, an advanced propulsion manufacturer and additive manufacturing adopter, have completed a flight of the Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator (ARMD), powered by..."
categories:
  - "Aerospace AM"
  - "AM for Space"
tags:
  - "insights"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ARMD-missile_01-640x400.jpg
word_count: 357
---

# AFRL and Ursa Major complete flight demonstration of Draper liquid rocket engine

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and [Ursa Major](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/ursa-major/), an advanced propulsion manufacturer and additive manufacturing adopter, have completed a flight of the Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator (ARMD), powered by Ursa Major's Draper liquid rocket engine.

The flight achieved supersonic speeds and validated concepts of operations for a cost-effective, mass-producible strike capability.

The flight, which took place on January 27th at an undisclosed location, marked a key milestone in advancing the technology readiness level of the Draper engine, which uses a number of 3D printed components, and [demonstrated what both organizations described as a new model for public-private defense research and development](https://www.voxelmatters.com/afrl-awards-ursa-major-28-6m-propulsion-contract/).

![AFRL and Ursa Major complete flight demonstration of Draper liquid rocket engine](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ARMD-missile_02-340x340.jpg)

“This project proves that we can transform and leverage our acquisition models to rapidly deliver critical technology advancements to deter and win in a future conflict,” stated Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, Commander and Air Force Technology Executive Officer, AFRL.

“We are not just building a single missile; we are forging a new path toward a cost-effective, mass-producible deterrent for the nation.”

[The Draper engine builds on several years of development work Ursa Major invested in its Hadley liquid rocket engine](https://www.voxelmatters.com/sirius-technologies-orders-ten-hadley-engines-from-ursa-major/).

“This flight proves that you can get a vehicle with a safe, storable, and throttleable liquid engine in the air quickly and affordably,” said Ursa Major CEO Chris Spagnoletti. “We went from contract to flight-ready of an all-up round and propulsion system in just eight months.”

AFRL's Rocket Propulsion Division Chief explained the demonstration comes within a broader effort to develop scalable liquid rocket engine technologies for future conflicts.

“ARMD represents a key milestone in our efforts to develop revolutionary, affordable, and scalable liquid rocket engine technologies to win the wars of tomorrow,” said Dr. Javier Urzay, Rocket Propulsion Division Chief, AFRL.

Ursa Major remains under contract with AFRL to continue advancing the characterization of the Draper liquid rocket engine in flight. The Colorado-based company, [which also operates additive manufacturing facilities in Youngstown, Ohio](https://www.voxelmatters.com/ursa-major-to-open-new-am-rd-center-in-youngstown-ohio/), delivers propulsion systems across hypersonics, solid rocket motors, and space applications.

[The company closed a $100 million Series E funding round last November](https://www.voxelmatters.com/ursa-major-secures-100m-series-e-to-target-advanced-propulsion-applications/), as part of its drive to ramp up production of hypersonic systems, solid rocket motors, and space mobility solutions.