The US Air Force is advancing work on an experimental hypersonic missile called “Angry Tortoise,” which aims to field new technologies.
The US Air Force is advancing work on an experimental hypersonic missile known as “Angry Tortoise,” an unusually named project meant to demonstrate a cheaper way to simulate ballistic threats and field new hypersonic technologies.
Revealed publicly at the Air and Space Forces Association conference 2025, the missile program reflects a renewed Pentagon push to drive down the cost of hypersonic weapons after years of delays and overruns. Ursa Major, the Colorado-based propulsion company working on the missile, confirmed a $28.6 million contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop what is formally described as a “tactical flight demonstrator.”4,000-pound thrust hydrogen-kerosene engineAt the center of the project is Draper, a 4,000-pound-thrust liquid-fueled rocket motor powered by a closed-cycle hydrogen peroxide–kerosene mix. Unlike the hazardous, short-lived propellants common in military rocket motors, Draper’s fuel can be stored for long periods at room temperature. That makes it attractive for tactical applications where quick launch readiness matters.Ursa Major calls Draper a tactical offshoot of its earlier Hadley rocket motor, which has been used in hypersonic test vehicles. About 60 percent of the motor’s parts are 3D printed using a largely additively manufactured design. The company said it can produce engines far cheaper than current-generation hypersonic propulsion systems, often costing millions per unit.AFRL and Ursa Major have also repurposed components from the Economical Target-2 , a low-cost rocket already used to mimic ballistic missiles. By keeping ET-2’s forward section and integrating Draper into the rear, the Angry Tortoise team hopes to slash costs while boosting performance.New hypersonic missileThe first test flight is slated for December at the Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The initial launch will aim for speeds near Mach 2, but project officials say later versions could reach Mach 4 or even Mach 5, the lower edge of true hypersonic velocity, once range restrictions are lifted.AFRL officials described Angry Tortoise as a science and technology demonstration rather than an immediate weapons program. The goal is to prove the missile’s performance, range, and cost advantages first, then explore production of an operational version if the tests succeed. That could include using solid-fuel motors in later iterations or adapting the design for aircraft, ships, or ground vehicle launches.The effort comes as the Pentagon faces mounting pressure to match rivals in the hypersonic race. Russia has already fielded and used hypersonic missiles in combat, while China has tested several new glide and ballistic systems. By comparison, US programs such as the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept and DARPA’s next-generation missile have struggled with delays and technical hurdles.In remarks at the conference, Ursa Major’s chief executive said the Angry Tortoise effort illustrates how partnering with commercial firms and reusing proven components can accelerate innovation. “We have to move faster and smarter if we’re going to keep our edge,” the CEO said.If successful, Angry Tortoise could become a blueprint for a new class of affordable hypersonic systems designed to demonstrate speed and be built, stored, and deployed at scale.
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