U.S. Navy Expands Partnership with Ursa Major on $10M MK 104 Rocket Motor Contract
Event summary
- The U.S. Navy awarded Ursa Major a $10 million contract to advance the MK 104 solid rocket motor design through critical design review and static fire.
- This follows prior collaboration, including a $25M joint investment in SRM prototyping.
- Ursa Major will leverage its Lynx manufacturing approach, producing hundreds of motors annually.
The big picture
This contract underscores the U.S. Navy's push to modernize its missile capabilities and diversify its supplier base, particularly in solid rocket motor production—a critical bottleneck in defense manufacturing. Ursa Major's role as a key partner highlights the growing importance of advanced manufacturing techniques in aerospace and defense.
What we're watching
- Execution Risk
- Whether Ursa Major can deliver on the MK 104 development timeline while scaling production.
- Industry Positioning
- How this contract strengthens Ursa Major's role in addressing solid rocket motor bottlenecks.
- Future Contracts
- The pace at which additional defense contracts may follow for Ursa Major.