U.S. Navy Awards Ursa Major $137M for Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Programs

Contracts include funding for $91M for the Compact Air-to-Air Missile solid rocket motor and $46M for the Naval Modular Missile Quad-Pack Medium-Range motor

BERTHOUD, Colorado (October 5, 2026) — The U.S. Navy has awarded Ursa Major two separate contracts, totaling $137 million, funded through the Office of the Under Secretary of War (OUSW), to develop and qualify advanced tactical solid rocket motors for the Compact Air-to-Air Missile (CAAM) program and the Naval Modular Missile (NMM) program. The awards leverage Ursa Major’s Lynx manufacturing approach, expanding energetics production capacity and applying advanced additive manufacturing techniques to deliver tactical motors that can be produced at scale.

“By investing in CAAM and NMM, the Navy and OUSW are building solid rocket motor capacity now and getting new tactical air and naval capabilities into development sooner,” said Jason Meredith, president, Solid Missile Systems at Ursa Major. “Our Lynx manufacturing approach and growing energetics capacity enable us to design, build, test, qualify and field these motors faster to support the warfighter. Production is the bottleneck in missile programs right now, and that’s the part we’ve been building for.”

For CAAM, an air-launched missile for current and next-generation aircraft, Ursa Major is designing a high-performance compact, low-cost 7-inch solid rocket motor designed to achieve performance requirements inside a tight volume and at low unit cost using Highly Loaded Grain. The design is being developed with the same manufacturing methods planned for full production, so it can be built at scale once qualified.

Ursa Major will also support the NMM medium-range variant by providing a 10-inch solid rocket motor designed for high-rate production and compatibility with existing Navy shipboard launch systems. The effort is aimed at delivering an operational motor that meets Navy performance and safety requirements while supporting high annual production volumes.

The awards build on Ursa Major’s existing solid rocket motor work with the Navy. In July, the Navy awarded the company $10 million to advance its MK 104 design through critical design review and static fire testing to support the Standard Missile family. In February, Ursa Major completed a $25 million cost-share Solid Rocket Motor Manufacturing Pathfinder Program with the Navy and the Office of Strategic Capital, designing, building and static-firing a 10-inch Highly Loaded Grain motor and developing a proprietary propellant for it. That work was conducted with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division.

About Ursa Major

Ursa Major is an aerospace and defense company delivering flight-proven capabilities for hypersonics, solid rocket motors, and space mobility. Headquartered in Berthoud, Colorado, with additive manufacturing operations in Youngstown, Ohio, Ursa Major leverages advanced production techniques and flexible architectures to build systems for all domains: land, air, sea, and space. The company is revitalizing the defense industrial base for the U.S. and its allies, flying faster to accelerate delivery of critical capabilities where speed and adaptability matter most. For more information, visit www.ursamajor.com.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact: [email protected]

Rep. Ilhan Omar says she will move from her Washington, DC, home after federal search

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar says she will move out of her Washington, D.C., home that federal agents searched last week

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will move out of her Washington, D.C., home that federal agents searched last week, she said Wednesday, noting that attention brought on by the raid has made her feel unsafe there.

Federal authorities are investigating potential fraud in her family's immigration paperwork and have issued grand jury subpoenas to some of her relatives, a person briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.

Omar, who was born in Somalia and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, said Wednesday in her first interview since the search that she is “confident in the fact that I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The progressive Minnesota Democrat has been a frequent critic and target of President Donald Trump, who has on multiple occasions pushed for the prosecution of his perceived political enemies.

In the interview with MS NOW, Omar said she was rattled by the search weeks out from the Nov. 3 midterms, which will decide control of the House and Senate. She is running for reelection in a deep blue district centered in Minneapolis and is expected to retain her seat.

Omar recalled waking around 6 a.m. to Homeland Security investigators banging on her door with a warrant. They searched for four or five hours and seized 17 items, including phones, notebooks, a Somali language children’s book and a vintage camera that her husband had received as a gift, she said.

The Justice Department has shared few details about the case other than saying it was a criminal investigation.

Omar came with her family to the U.S. at age 12, after they obtained asylum. She became a U.S. citizen five years later, in 2000.

“It would be a huge undertaking to, I suppose, indict a 12-year-old for so cleverly conspiring to defraud immigration services to come to the United States. I'm sure there are a lot of smart 12-year-olds, but that seams like a leap,” she said in the interview.

The search drew sharp condemnation from congressional Democrats, who also questioned the timing. The Justice Department has historically avoided overt investigative actions involving candidates in the immediate run-up to an election.

Omar said the agents were “intrusive but polite,” logging the items they took and putting back everything else in its place.

___

Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer contributed from Washington.

Why experts say California is the best-equipped state to deal with wildfires

Even with ample resources, it can still be difficult to contain wildfires.

California has just experienced one of its worst wildfire seasons in years, despite the Golden State's ample resources to combat the blazes once they spark.

The Palisades and Eaton fires, while both mostly contained as of Wednesday, are still active in Los Angeles County after starting on Jan. 7 and burning through tens of thousands of acres and killing at least two dozen people -- and new fires have popped up as the region's landscape remains dry and filled with fuel.

California is the best-equipped state in the country to combat wildfires, experts told ABC News. But even with the availability of personnel, equipment and the most advanced technology, other factors -- some exacerbated by climate change -- often make it impossible to contain fires before they cause widespread destruction.

Firefighting resources in California are abundant

The state often experiences the most fire activity in the U.S., leading the country with the most wildfires and the most acres burned, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) says it responds to an average of 7,500 wildfire incidents annually.

But California contains a "spider web" of different fire control, fire management and fire agencies that all come together to combat large wildfires, like the fires that decimated large portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties in recent weeks, Hugh Safford, a research fire ecologist at the University of California, Davis, told ABC News.

These agencies include local fire departments run by municipalities, which contain firefighters trained not only in urban, or structural, fires but wildland fires, as well. Combined with state and federal efforts -- which include Cal Fire, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service -- California contains not only the most firefighters in the country but also the most highly trained, Safford said.

"The Forest Service has, by far, the largest firefighting organization of all of those, because it manages most of the nation's forests," Safford said. "It deals with most of the areas in which fire risk to ecosystems and to humans is most extreme."

Considering the wildfire risk to human lives, property and wildlands, California has a vast budget for fighting wildfires. Cal Fire was given a $4 billion budget for the 2025 to 2026 season, and operating budgets are always subject to increase in the event of a big fire year, Safford said. Of the Forest Service's $3 billion annual fire suppression budget, most of it is spent in California, he added.

That budget allows for the best equipment, such as helicopters and other machinery, to be implemented during firefighting efforts, Safford said. With Silicon Valley in proximity, the latest technologies in firefighting are also readily available, he added.

"A lot of that new technology is being tested and used here to begin with," Safford said.

Despite ample resources, putting out fires can still be difficult, experts say

Wildfires have been getting bigger and more extreme in the last several decades, research shows. The frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires have more than doubled in the last two decades, a study published last year in Nature Ecology & Evolution found. In regions already prone to wildfires, a climate that has caused further d warming and drying is partly to blame.

In California, annual wildfires are burning five times more land than in the 1970s, according to a 2019 study published in Advancing Earth and Space Sciences.

"Climate change has made California hotter and drier," said Emily Fischer, a professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University and a member of Science Moms, a nonpartisan group of climate scientists and mothers that says it aims to build a better future for kids. "That just makes it easier for fires to start and spread, and that means a larger area is burning every year," she said.

While wildfires are a natural and necessary part of Earth's cycle, climate change and other more direct human influences have increased their likelihood. Firefighters are battling blazes that could now be considered "unnatural" due to their severity, making them harder to contain before they cause widespread damage.

Safford, who used to work for the U.S. Forest Service, said he's witnessed the rise in wildfires firsthand, in terms of cost. In the year 2000, fire suppression accounted for about 20% of the Forest Service's annual budget, he said. Now, firefighting is taking up about 70% of the agency's budget, he said.

That increase in fire suppression needs has taken away from the Forest Service's other responsibilities, such as restoration, recreation, conservation and law enforcement, Safford said.

"We're burning communities and forests down at a scary rate these days," he said.

In the case of the Los Angeles wildfires, their inception was caused by a perfect storm of weather and climate conditions -- including a Santa Ana wind event that brought hurricane-force winds to the region, as well as plentiful fuel left from two consecutive wet winters followed by months of drought conditions.

The co-occurrence of these events could potentially take place more frequently in the future, further increasing the risk of fires in California, Lei Zhao, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Illinois, told ABC News.

"Climate change trends, the extremes and climate variability contribute to this situation," Zhao said. "All those things are likely to be exacerbated in the future."

Fire officials plead for people to not fly drones over wildfire-ravaged areas of Southern California

If a drone is in the air, then all firefighting aerial operations shut down.

This story was originally published by KABC, an ABC owned and operated television station.

LOS ANGELES -- As the wind-driven fires continue across Southern California, officials are pleading with people to not fly drones over wildfire-ravaged areas.

"Everyone should know, all of your viewers, flying a drone in the fire traffic area is not only dangerous, but it's illegal," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney said.

David Muir anchors a special edition of "20/20" with continuing coverage of the deadly California fires. "American Catastrophe: LA Burning -- A Special Edition of 20/20" starts tonight at 9/8c on ABC.

The fire chief stressed that doing so could severely hamper efforts, noting that if a drone is over one of the fires that crews are battling, all firefighting aerial operations shut down.

Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are put in place by the FAA to alert pilots of areas of restricted air travel due to a hazardous condition, a special event, or a general warning for the entire FAA airspace.

TFRs are currently in place over the Palisades and Eaton fires, allowing firefighting aircraft the airspace they need. They apply to all aircraft, including drones.

Drone videos of destroyed neighborhoods are spreading over social media, despite the threat of jail time.

During a news conference Thursday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman reiterated that anyone caught flying a drone faces severe consequences.

"If you're thinking that it's fine to send a drone up in the area for your own amusement, or you want to get information that nobody else can get, and you do it in one of these areas that for which drones are not permitted ... you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished to the full extent of the law," he said.

According to the FAA, you can still be arrested and fined, even if TFRs are not in place.

"Even if a TFR is not in place, drone pilots should avoid flying near wildfires," the FAA states. "It's a federal crime to interfere with firefighting aircraft regardless of whether restrictions are established, and violators can face stiff penalties."

A super scooper plane on contract from Quebec hit a drone while fighting the Palisades Fire. It is only one of two super scoopers available and it's now out of commission until at least Monday as it gets repaired, officials said.

The pilots were unaware they hit the drone until they landed at Van Nuys Airport and the maintenance staff noticed a "fist-sized hole," according to Maroney.

"We do have our federal partners behind the scenes," he said. "[They] are going to be implementing procedures to be able to follow drones in our two large fire areas, and they will be they will be able to identify who the operator of that drone is."

In 2019, KABC's helicopter had to make a precautionary landing after it was hit by a drone while flying over downtown Los Angeles.

"We heard this pop, a loud bang," said pilot and reporter Chris Cristi. "We felt it, we heard it. We all looked at each other. Didn't really know what it was. Just assumed it was a bird because that happens every once in a while. When we got on the ground, though, it was a different story."

FAA rules prohibit flying drones within five miles of an airport, above 400 feet elevation or in a way that interferes with manned aircraft. It also says drones cannot be operated beyond the unassisted line of sight of the operator.

And if you're thinking of citing "the media" as a reason to be exempt from the rules, the FAA stresses that even media personnel are not allowed to fly near wildfires unless they're granted a special approval that "must directly support a response, relief, or recovery activity."

"Not only are these drone flights illegal and dangerous for our firefighters," said ABC Owned TV Stations executive producer and licensed drone pilot, Tim Sarquis, "It makes flying legitimately more difficult. When drone pilots break the rules, it hurts everyone, resulting in more restrictions if not full out bans of drones in some areas."

Take a look at the latest stories and videos on the devastating Southern California wildfires here.

ABC News contributed to this report.

27-year-old man credited for saving kids, driver in runaway school bus

A Minnesota man is opening up after he saved nearly 20 children when their school bus driver suffered a medical emergency.

"I really felt like it was my duty," Ebro Ahmed, 27, told ABC News. "Also, too, it’s kids we’re talking about, you know. Even if I were to die, it would still be worth it."

Surveillance video, released by convenience store Ya Bricks Snacks and Tobacco, captured the scene on Monday. Ahmed, who was standing outside the store, said he noticed a school bus driving by with the door wide open.

When he looked inside the bus, Ahmed said he saw the driver having what looked to be a seizure. He said this prompted him to sprint toward the bus, jump inside and then pull the emergency brake, seconds before anything happened.

"Some [kids] were screaming. Some [were] calm. These two girls on the front really did help me a lot. I threw my phone and my glasses at one of them and I told her to hold it," Ahmed recalled of the chaotic situation at the time.

Ahmed also credited the long-running TV drama "Grey's Anatomy" for helping him stay calm in the heightened situation.

"[The show teaches] you about what to do in situations that you never could see yourself in," Ahmed said. "So it's just something like, you know, some tips and tricks that you could use for the rest of your life."

Saint Paul Public Schools confirmed to ABC News there was a medical emergency on board the bus and paramedics responded to the scene, although no injuries were reported. The school district also said students on the impacted bus were sent home after transferring to another bus and counselors checked in with students on Tuesday after the incident.

The school bus driver was later released from the hospital and is resting at home, according to a spokesperson for Saint Paul Public Schools.

Amy Acton campaign slams Ramaswamy over controversial ad featuring estranged mother

The GOP candidate told reporters Tuesday that the ad was from his campaign.

Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton's campaign slammed her GOP opponent Vivek Ramaswamy Tuesday, alleging his campaign used her estranged mother, whom she has accused of abusing her and standing by the man who sexually abused her, to urge voters not to support her in the toss-up race.

A video that appears to be a campaign ad circulated on social media late Monday showing Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, saying that she loves her daughter, but adds, "Amy has a serious problem" and has lied about her past.

ABC News has not been able to verify the content or authenticity of the video, which has been shared by many users online, including Donald Trump Jr.

Ramaswamy told reporters on Tuesday that the ad did come from his campaign and that he viewed it as "legitimate." He said that Acton's mother was not compensated.

"It is an ad from our campaign, and the thing that I want to say is that I would love for this race and this election to be about the substantive issues that impact Ohioans, and unfortunately, Amy Acton has been hiding from those issues. She won't debate me," he said.

In the campaign ad, Arthur describes her daughter as a "liar," saying, "She lies about her past."

"My daughter needs help, and she can't help you if she needs help herself," Arthur says in the video.

Arthur couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, criticized Ramaswamy over the "disgusting attack."

"It's not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at 12 years old from our birth mother's husband into a political talking point," Stearns said in a statement.

"After he was arrested and Amy and I were removed from their custody, our birth mother stayed married to Amy's rapist until he died," he added.

This is not the first time Arthur has publicly accused her daughter of lying.

In an interview with an anti-abortion access group in 2020, Arthur accused Acton's father of convincing their daughter to lie.

When asked earlier Tuesday if the ad was made with the campaign's knowledge or consent, Connie Luck, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy, released a lengthy statement Tuesday, but did not deny making the ad or denounce it.

"We don't know what happened between Amy and her mother, who first spoke out about Amy in 2020, but we know that Amy Acton is a serial fabulist who has some serious problems with the truth that the public needs to be aware of before deciding who to entrust as governor," Luck said in a statement.

Luck's statement went on to accuse Acton of "lying about Vivek and his family, lying about her own record, and then hiding from debates," and questioning her actions during the pandemic when she was the director of the Ohio Department of Health.

"If Amy disagrees with these criticisms, she should stand before the people of Ohio, answer the questions, and let voters decide for themselves. The fact that she won't, and Vivek will, should tell you everything about who's really lying," Luck ended her statement.

Acton pushed back in an interview with Spectrum News Tuesday.

"I won't normalize somebody who has said that my childhood is something I'm just complaining about. Who today just released an ad using my birth mother, who I was removed from at the age of 12 for severe abuse and neglect and sexual abuse; my brother and I were removed," she said.

The campaign released a video ad later Tuesday where Stearns echoed his criticism over Ramaswamy

"Shame on Vivek,” he says, adding, "It's the contempt he has for Amy. It's the contempt he has for Ohio. He's not fit to lead."

Acton has been public about her experience with abuse and seeking therapy for it, She has also openly spoken about her tumultuous relationship with her mother.

In an interview with the Youngstown Vindicator in 2019, when she was first appointed director of the Ohio Department of Health, Acton described a childhood that was "out of control", shuffling between houses with her mother and brother and the "cast of characters" her mother dated.

She alleged her mother's second husband molested her between the ages of 9 and 12. Charges were filed against her stepfather, and Acton testified against him.

A newspaper article from August 1978 corroborates Acton's account.

The article in the Youngstown Vindicator describes that Acton's stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was "bound over to the Mahoning County grand jury in connection with the rape of a 12-year-old girl." Acton was born in 1966, making her 12 at the time.

The article says he was "arrested at his home on August 4th following an investigation initiated by the girl's father."

Cledith Arthur died in 2004. He and Acton's mother remained married after the allegations.

"In the courthouse after they were charged, I went to give her a kiss, and she just turned her cheek away. That was the last time I ever saw her," Acton said in the 2019 interview about her mother. "I was lucky that it got bad enough, because it got me out of there."

Acton's father received custody, which she credited for turning her life around. She then graduated top of her class in high school, was homecoming queen, and became a doctor.

Ramaswamy has also been criticized for making comments seen as dismissive of his opponents' experiences, saying that Acton "only ever talks about something that happened to her" rather than having a positive message.

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