Ukrainian company develops rocket engine with 250 km range

Ukrainian aerospace startup Scopa Industries has developed an engine capable of powering rockets to a range of 250 kilometers (155 miles), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov announced.

“Simple. Reliable. Fast to produce. Scopa (Osprey) is already supplying it to other Ukrainian rocket developers,” Fedorov said.

The project was made possible thanks to a grant from the Brave1 defense cluster, which supports private arms manufacturers.

The new engine is a jet engine with an automatic start system — it launches independently, without the need for additional equipment or auxiliary systems.

“This gives a new boost to Ukraine’s rocket program,” Fedorov said.

He also said that the Brave1 cluster has launched two new tenders: one for the development of tactical ballistic missiles — a Ukrainian equivalent to HIMARS — and another for surface-to-air missile systems designed to counter drones.