US Navy Awards Ursa Major $137 Million for Missile Motor Production

The US Navy has awarded Ursa Major two contracts totaling $137 million to develop solid rocket motors for the Compact Air-to-Air Missile and Naval Modular Missile programs. The deal leverages advanced manufacturing techniques to address production bottlenecks in defense supply chains.

By The Shipping Chronicle · AI-assisted reporting and explanations

The United States Navy has officially awarded defense contractor Ursa Major two separate contracts, valued at a combined $137 million, to advance its missile propulsion capabilities. Funded through the Office of the Under Secretary of War, these awards focus on developing and qualifying advanced tactical solid rocket motors specifically designed for the Compact Air-to-Air Missile (CAAM) program and the Naval Modular Missile (NMM) program. This financial commitment represents a strategic push to expand energetic materials production capacity and integrate additive manufacturing into the defense industrial base.

## Contract Overview

The core objective of this $137 million investment is to accelerate the development timeline for critical naval and aerial weaponry. Jason Meredith, president of Solid Missile Systems at Ursa Major, emphasized that the funding allows the company to design, build, test, qualify, and field motors more rapidly. "Production is the bottleneck in missile programs right now," Meredith noted, highlighting that the contract addresses systemic delays by focusing heavily on scalable manufacturing processes rather than just research. The goal is to reduce the time required to move from prototype to operational deployment for the warfighter.

## Program Specifications (CAAM & NMM)

The contract covers two distinct but complementary programs. For the CAAM initiative, Ursa Major is tasked with designing a high-performance, compact, low-cost 7-inch solid rocket motor. This component must fit within tight volume constraints for current and next-generation aircraft while utilizing a "Highly Loaded Grain" design to maximize efficiency without increasing unit costs. Crucially, the design phase utilizes methods intended for full-scale production, ensuring that once qualification testing is complete, the transition to mass manufacturing is seamless.

Simultaneously, Ursa Major will support the medium-range variant of the NMM program by supplying a 10-inch solid rocket motor. This motor is engineered for compatibility with existing Navy shipboard launch systems and is designed to meet rigorous performance and safety standards. The emphasis here is on supporting high annual production volumes, ensuring that the Navy can replenish stockpiles efficiently while maintaining interoperability across its fleet assets.

## Manufacturing Strategy (Lynx Approach)

Central to these contracts is Ursa Major’s proprietary "Lynx" manufacturing approach. This strategy relies on advanced additive manufacturing techniques to streamline the creation of solid rocket motors. By integrating design and production methodologies early in the process, the company aims to eliminate traditional barriers between prototyping and scale. This approach not only speeds up development but also enhances the robustness of the supply chain by reducing reliance on legacy, slower manufacturing lines. The ability to produce motors at scale using these modern techniques is presented as a key advantage in overcoming current industrial base limitations.

## Context: Recent Ursa Major Navy History

These new awards build upon a growing partnership between Ursa Major