Overview
- AFRL and Ursa Major conducted a Jan. 27 demonstrator flight at Wright-Patterson AFB that reached supersonic speeds, shifting Draper from ground validation to in‑flight evaluation.
- The Draper engine uses storable hydrogen‑peroxide/kerosene propellants, delivers about 4,000 pounds of thrust, and can throttle and restart for powered maneuvering across flight profiles.
- Ursa Major says it moved from contract award to a flight‑ready all‑up round and propulsion system in eight months, enabled by in‑house production and additive manufacturing.
- Program leaders outline a 2026 test series with flight upgrades and a booster‑assisted flight, targeting a full‑up hypersonic booster demonstrator by early 2027.
- Ursa Major has introduced the HAVOC modular missile concept built around Draper for multiple launch platforms, as AFRL frames the effort as a path to mass‑producible hypersonic deterrents.