Ursa Major, BAE Systems Test Extended-Range Rocket Motor for APKWS Laser-Guidance Kit!

Ursa Major, in partnership with BAE Systems, has successfully completed a series of static fire tests for a new extended-range variant of the solid rocket motor used in the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guidance kit. Conducted in Denver, Colorado, the tests mark a significant step toward a planned flight demonstration in fall 2025 and showcase Ursa Major’s ability to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation propulsion technologies to meet urgent warfighter needs.

The new rocket motor leverages Ursa Major’s Highly Loaded Grain (HLG) propellant technology, which delivers enhanced performance and range without increasing the motor’s size or form factor. This advancement is particularly important because it maintains compatibility with existing systems while significantly improving battlefield effectiveness. By enabling greater range without requiring redesign of the rocket’s dimensions, the motor offers military forces a cost-effective way to upgrade precision strike capabilities.

Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major, emphasized the importance of the milestone: “Our collaboration with BAE Systems to extend the range of the APKWS guided rocket demonstrates how Ursa Major is accelerating SRM capability through innovation and speed. These successful tests validate our approach and set the stage for a flight test this fall and our ramp to provide critical SRM production capacity.”

BAE Systems’ APKWS guidance kit transforms standard unguided 2.75-inch rockets into precision-guided munitions. By equipping conventional rockets with laser-guidance technology, APKWS provides pinpoint accuracy with minimal collateral damage, redefining what small, lightweight rocket systems can achieve. These kits are in service across all branches of the U.S. military and are available to allied forces through Foreign Military Sales, making them a critical asset in modern precision warfare.

The integration of Ursa Major’s HLG technology with BAE Systems’ proven guidance solution represents a major step in advancing rocket performance. The technology extends missile range while maintaining the original motor’s dimensions, thereby ensuring full compatibility with existing launch platforms. The flexible design architecture also allows for reuse of manufacturing systems across multiple missile programs, enabling greater efficiency and scalability.

Supporting this innovation is Ursa Major’s Lynx Manufacturing System, a software-enabled, additive manufacturing production line that eliminates many of the bottlenecks inherent in legacy industrial processes. By using advanced manufacturing and digital workflows, Lynx enables rapid scaling of production while maintaining high reliability and quality standards. This approach ensures the U.S. and allied militaries can access urgently needed solid rocket motor (SRM) capacity at scale and speed.

The successful static fire tests also follow recent announcements validating Ursa Major’s ability to develop SRMs in multiple diameters, including 10-inch and 5-inch variants, further highlighting the company’s flexibility and engineering capabilities. Together, these developments position Ursa Major as a disruptive force in the SRM market, providing innovative solutions at a time when global demand for advanced precision munitions is rising sharply.

By combining BAE Systems’ precision-guided hardware with Ursa Major’s propulsion expertise and advanced manufacturing methods, the partnership is reshaping the landscape of rocket motor production. As preparations move toward the upcoming flight test, the collaboration underscores the potential of public-private innovation in delivering critical, next-generation capabilities for U.S. and allied defense forces.