Ursa Major Havoc hypersonic missile project
The US military-industrial complex is actively working on the development of hypersonic missile systems with various features and capabilities. These developments involve not only recognized industry leaders but also small startups without significant experience. One such company is Ursa Major Technologies, which recently began working in the field of hypersonic missiles. weapons, and now presents the first project of its kind - the Havoc missile.
Basic components
Ursa Major Technologies was founded in 2015 and is based in Berthoud, Colorado. Its core business is the development and production of liquid-propellant rocket engines for various applications, primarily space rockets. To date, the company has presented four such projects and has received several contracts for the supply of similar products.
In September 2022, Ursa Major first announced its new project, Draper. It envisioned the development of a reusable liquid-propellant rocket engine with a thrust of up to 4 pounds (over 1,8 tons), fueled by kerosene and hydrogen peroxide. This engine was proposed for future use in space and military rocket systems.
The Draper project, with its apparent military potential, attracted the interest of Pentagon officials. In May 2023, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) supported its development. Ursa Major was awarded a contract to continue and complete the design, followed by construction and testing of a prototype engine.
In early June 2024, it was announced that testing of the Draper prototype engine had begun. The engine operated on a test bench and demonstrated the required level of key performance. However, some issues were identified that required attention and correction.
A rocket in flight – so far only in graphic form
Flight tests of the new engine using prototype rockets were planned for 2024-25. However, these tests have been repeatedly postponed due to the engine's unavailability. The first flight may yet take place in 2026.
Rocket for the engine
The Air and Space Association recently held its latest symposium in the United States. The event included an exhibition where various American companies showcased their current and future developments. Ursa Major Technologies was one of the symposium participants with its new project.
It turns out that the company has recently been developing its own multi-role hypersonic missile project behind closed doors. The project has been given the working title "Havoc." The key component of this missile will be the Draper engine, which is in the late stages of development.
The Havoc missile is being considered as a multi-purpose weapon. It will primarily be equipped with a warhead for use as a weapon. Additionally, it is proposed to create an aerial target for use in crew training. Defense-BMD. In theory, the components and developments of such a missile system could also be used in defensive systems.
Regardless of their intended purpose, all Havoc missile variants are expected to be relatively simple and inexpensive. The cost of a production unit is planned to reach $3 million. Pentagon officials have previously set similar goals, and Ursa Major Technologies intends to achieve them.
The Havoc project is still in the development stage, but its creators are not providing any details. The developer has already unveiled a mockup of the future rocket and outlined some specifications, but other details have not yet been released. It's possible these aspects of the project have not yet been finalized.
Draper engine undergoing bench testing
It's still unknown how soon Havoc will even reach flight testing. However, it's clear that the prospects of such a rocket directly depend on the progress of the Draper project. If Ursa Major can complete its development and successfully conduct the necessary tests, then the Havoc project will also be able to advance further. For now, it's safe to assume that the two new products will be used together: the Havoc rocket will serve as the prototype platform for the Draper engine.
Technical features
The Havoc project envisions the development of a hypersonic cruise missile with a liquid-fuel propulsion system. Several configurations are proposed for this missile, allowing it to be used as a munition for various purposes, as an aerial target, and so on.
The rocket will have a cylindrical body with an ogival nose cone. A swept wing of small span and area will be mounted on top of the body. X-shaped rudders will be located in the tail. The liquid-fueled engine eliminated the need for a protruding air intake, improving the aerodynamics accordingly. A booster engine in a cylindrical body can be mounted in the tail.
The hull is designed to house the control systems, the warhead (if necessary), and the fuel tanks and Draper liquid-propellant rocket engine. The exact layout of the internal components is still unknown.
The new rocket's length, including the additional engine, does not exceed 3–3,5 meters. Its diameter is tens of centimeters. Its weight is still unknown, but it can be estimated based on the stated engine parameters.
"Devastation" will be powered by a Draper liquid-propellant rocket engine. This is a closed-cycle engine powered by kerosene and hydrogen peroxide. A catalyst is used to break down the liquid oxidizer into a gas mixture, which is then used in a turbopump unit and then fed into the combustion chamber.
The Arroway liquid-propellant rocket engine is the largest and most powerful Ursa Major development.
The maximum thrust of such a vehicle is 1,8 tons. This parameter can be adjusted according to the flight mode. The engine should provide a flight speed of at least Mach 5. The presentation mentioned that Havoc would be a medium-range missile, but no specific figures were given.
The new missile's guidance system is unknown. It will likely be an autopilot with integrated inertial and satellite navigation systems. The use of homing heads cannot be ruled out either, as long as known technical issues are addressed.
Using an autopilot, Havoc will be able to fly to a target with pre-determined and entered coordinates. These instruments will also enable it to fly along a route as an aerial target. Supplementing the autopilot with other instruments will allow it to perform more complex tasks.
In its combat version, the Devastation missile will be able to carry a high-explosive fragmentation or other warhead to destroy designated targets. The mass of such a warhead could reach several dozen kilograms. It should be noted that the missile's overall power will also increase due to the kinetic energy of hypersonic flight.
Ursa Major plans to deploy the new missile on various platforms and launch vehicles. Its limited size will allow it to be launched from tactical aircraft. aviationThe possibility of use with ground-based launchers was also mentioned.
Big plans
The Havoc hypersonic missile project by Ursa Major Technologies is of particular interest. First and foremost, it demonstrates that developing systems of this class is no longer limited to large companies and industry leaders. The current level of technology allows even small startups to test their mettle.
The idea of creating a universal missile platform is intriguing. Depending on the customer's plans, it could serve as a weapon or a target for other missiles. The latter use is particularly interesting. It takes into account the development of hypersonic weapons among potential US adversaries and offers a dedicated tool for training air defense and missile defense crews.
The Havoc project proposes an interesting approach to propulsion. Instead of the ramjet or solid-fuel engines typical of modern hypersonic missiles, a liquid-propellant rocket engine was chosen. Moreover, such an engine is already being developed and is nearing testing. This means that the fate of the Havoc will be determined in the near future.
However, the final decision will rest with potential buyers. At its current stage, the Havoc project looks quite promising, but its actual results may fall far short of those advertised. The promising missile still needs to complete all development stages, demonstrate its capabilities in testing, and meet customer expectations.
Information