U.S. Navy Awards Ursa Major $137M in Contracts for Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Development

## U.S. Navy Awards Ursa Major $137M for Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Programs The U.S. Navy has awarded Colorado-based propulsion company Ursa Major two separate contracts totalling $137 million for the development of advanced solid rocket motors intended to support next-generation naval missile programs, the company announced on 5 October 2026. According to a PR Newswire release issued by Ursa Major, the contracts comprise $91 million designated for the Compact Air-to-Air Missile (CAAM) solid rocket motor program and a further $46 million for the Naval Modular Missile Quad-Pack Medium-Range motor. Both programs are aimed at strengthening the Navy's airborne and surface-launched missile capabilities amid growing emphasis on domestic defence supply chain resilience. Berthoud, Colorado-headquartered Ursa Major has positioned itself as a key domestic supplier of solid rocket propulsion systems, a sector that has drawn increased attention from the U.S. Department of Defense as it seeks to reduce reliance on foreign-sourced components in critical weapons systems. ### Strategic Significance for Naval Readiness The investment reflects the Navy's broader push to modernise its missile inventory and expand the industrial base capable of producing advanced propulsion systems at scale. Solid rocket motors are foundational components in a wide range of naval weapons, from ship-launched surface-to-air missiles to air-to-air munitions deployed from carrier-based aircraft. The Compact Air-to-Air Missile program, which commands the larger share of the funding, is understood to be part of efforts to field a lighter, more compact interceptor suitable for next-generation fighter platforms and unmanned systems. The Naval Modular Missile Quad-Pack Medium-Range motor, meanwhile, supports the Navy's interest in flexible, multi-role launch architectures that can be adapted across vessel classes. For the maritime defence sector, the contracts signal continued capital flow into naval weapons modernisation at a time when fleet readiness and munitions stockpile depth remain priorities for U.S. naval planners. Industry observers note that securing domestic propulsion manufacturing capacity is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative, particularly given supply chain vulnerabilities exposed in recent years. Ursa Major did not disclose specific performance timelines for either contract, but the scale of the awards suggests multi-year development and production commitments consistent with major naval acquisition programmes. *Source: PR Newswire / Ursa Major*