The US Army is partnering with Tiberius Aerospace under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to support the advancement of the company’s Sceptre liquid-ramjet artillery projectile, which is designed to deliver precision strikes at distances of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles).
Signed with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC), the agreement marks the first Sceptre collaboration with a US government service since the system was publicly introduced in May 2025.
The Sceptre is intended to be fired from standard NATO 155mm howitzers and is designed to achieve speeds above Mach 3, fly beyond 65,000 feet (19,800 meters), and engage targets with an accuracy of approximately 5 meters (16 feet). Its guidance architecture is also designed to support operations in GPS-denied environments.
The munition differs from traditional rocket-assisted projectiles by using a liquid-fueled ramjet for sustained propulsion rather than relying solely on a short-duration rocket motor. This approach is intended to extend the effective range of existing tube artillery while improving overall flight performance.
Sceptre’s propulsion system can operate on multiple readily available military fuels, including diesel, JP-4, and JP-8. The use of commonly available fuels could simplify logistics and sustainment. Furthermore, the projectile is designed for compatibility with existing 155mm artillery platforms, eliminating the need for specialized launchers or new firing systems.
Software-Driven Capability Enhancements
A software-defined and modular open architecture allows Sceptre to receive new capabilities during its service life. Through integration with Tiberius Aerospace’s AI-enabled GRAIL platform, the projectile can accommodate upgrades involving targeting, guidance, mission software, autonomy, and other functions.
Collaboration and Testing
The latest US Army agreement builds on a CRADA signed between Tiberius Aerospace and the UK Ministry of Defence in September 2025. The new partnership establishes a framework for joint research and technical work between Tiberius Aerospace and DEVCOM AC, supporting further development of the Sceptre system.
A significant development milestone was achieved in April 2026, when Tiberius Aerospace successfully launched a liquid-fueled ramjet projectile from a NATO-standard 155mm howitzer. The demonstration represented an important step toward validating the Sceptre’s propulsion system and long-range artillery concept.
