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US-UK company launches for the first time liquid-fueled ramjet projectile from a 155mm NATO howitzer, reaches 150 km at Mach 3.5 and promises to extend precision firepower at lower cost and without modifying existing platforms

Written by Carla Teles
Published on 25/04/2026 at 00:52
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The ramjet projectile tested by Tiberius Aerospace marked an unprecedented advance by being fired from a standard NATO howitzer, operating with liquid fuel in flight, reaching 150 kilometers in range, and paving the way for a new generation of more scalable and less missile-dependent precision artillery

The ramjet projectile reached a new level after Tiberius Aerospace demonstrated that its 155mm precision-guided munition can be launched by a standard NATO howitzer, ignite in flight, and operate as intended. The test was conducted in New Mexico, United States, highlighting a technology that, according to the company, ushers in a new era in long-range firepower.

The result is noteworthy because it combines characteristics that usually appear separately. The Sceptre system combines a range of up to 150 kilometers, a speed of approximately Mach 3.5, and precision with a circular error probable of less than 5 meters, while promising lower cost, the use of widely available fuels, and integration with existing platforms, without requiring modifications to current artillery.

What is the ramjet projectile and why is this test attracting so much attention?

The Sceptre is a 155mm precision-guided munition designed to operate with standard NATO artillery systems. The novelty lies in the projectile’s use of a liquid-fueled ramjet system, which the company presented as a world-first in this category of howitzer launch.

In practice, this means the munition exits a conventional artillery platform, enters flight, and activates its propulsion system to extend range and performance. The test showed that this combination can work within a format that brings traditional artillery closer to capabilities normally associated with missiles.

The numbers that explain the performance leap

The results released by the company place the system at a level of significant operational impact. The projectile achieved a range of up to 150 kilometers, flew at approximately Mach 3.5, and operated at altitudes above 65,000 feet.

Additionally, the system carries a 5.2-kilogram payload and records a circular error probable of less than 5 meters, even in contested GPS environments. These numbers indicate a long-range, high-speed, and high-precision munition within an architecture compatible with 155mm howitzers already used by allied forces.

How the technology works without requiring changes to current platforms

One of the central points of the project is compatibility with standard NATO artillery systems. According to the company, the ramjet projectile does not require modifications to existing platforms, which reduces adoption barriers and expands the potential for use in structures already in service.

The system was also developed with a modular design, allowing for continuous updates. This opens space for product evolution without depending on the complete replacement of the launch platform, reinforcing the proposal of operational gain with less impact on existing infrastructure.

Liquid fuel changes the logic of long-range artillery

Liquid-fueled ramjet projectile launched by NATO howitzer combines precision, 150 km range, and a new leap in artillery.
Image: Tiberius

Tiberius Aerospace states that the adoption of liquid fuel represents a significant change in what artillery can offer in combat. The system uses widely available military fuels, such as JP-4 and JP-8, which helps reduce the logistical burden during deployment and operation. Watch the video here.

This point is important because fuel availability directly influences the ability to sustain operations. By working with known and widely used military inputs, the system aims to increase the feasibility of production, transport, and large-scale employment.

One of the biggest challenges was surviving the violence of the shot

One of the milestones of the test was proving that a liquid-fueled ramjet system can withstand the extreme acceleration of an artillery launch. According to the company, this process can expose the munition to approximately 18,000 times the force of Earth’s gravity.

Even under this condition, the system demonstrated stable flight dynamics, controlled rotation, and successful activation of in-flight stabilization mechanisms. This result is significant because it indicates that the technology not only works in theory but also withstands one of the most severe mechanical environments for this type of weaponry.

What this means in practice for modern artillery

The tests suggest that it is now possible to combine the range and speed of a missile with the flexibility, cost, and deployment capability of traditional artillery. It is precisely this point that the company considers the opening of a new category between artillery and missiles.

In practice, this can expand the volume of precision firepower available to allied forces, reduce reliance on high-cost missile stockpiles, and accelerate production compared to more complex systems. The project was presented as a way to fill a long-standing gap between range, cost, and scalability.

Why cost and production are central to the discussion

The company states that the system was designed to deliver capability quickly, at scale, and at a significantly lower cost. This point gains strength because the project does not depend on changes to existing platforms and still works with widely available fuels in the military environment.

Another highlighted factor is support for licensed local production. This means that allied countries could manufacture the Sceptre in their own industrial bases, which would help shorten supply chains, strengthen sovereign capability, and accelerate the system’s deployment in the field.

Integration with artificial intelligence expands the project’s scope

The Sceptre can also be integrated with Tiberius Aerospace’s own GRAIL artificial intelligence platform. This detail shows that the proposal is not limited to the munition itself but connects to a broader ecosystem of operation, coordination, and use of precision firepower.

Within this logic, the system is presented not just as an engineering innovation, but as part of a more distributed, resilient, and adaptable defense model. The company highlighted that this can support more robust manufacturing structures among allies.

Next steps after the successful test in the United States

After validating the design and engineering approach, Tiberius Aerospace stated that the next step will be to test the system at even greater ranges. The company also intends to move forward with full validation and certification phases.

This move indicates that the New Mexico test was treated as concrete proof of concept, but not as a final stage. The goal now is to expand operational validation and consolidate the system as a viable alternative within the long-range precision artillery landscape.

Why this launch could open a new chapter in precision firepower

The ramjet projectile test brings together several elements that explain its significance. It demonstrates the possibility of launching a liquid-fueled munition from a standard NATO howitzer, confirms long-range performance with high velocity, maintains precision in adverse scenarios, and proposes cost reduction without requiring changes to existing platforms.

With this, Tiberius Aerospace presents a solution that attempts to bring traditional artillery closer to capabilities previously more associated with missiles. The result is a technology that, if it advances in the next phases, could change how allied forces think about range, precision, production, and availability of fire in the field.

In your view, does this ramjet projectile have the potential to definitively change the space between traditional artillery and high-cost missiles?

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Carla Teles

Produzo conteúdos diários sobre economia, curiosidades, setor automotivo, tecnologia, inovação, construção e setor de petróleo e gás, com foco no que realmente importa para o mercado brasileiro. Aqui, você encontra oportunidades de trabalho atualizadas e as principais movimentações da indústria. Tem uma sugestão de pauta ou quer divulgar sua vaga? Fale comigo: carlatdl016@gmail.com

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