Testing Sceptre, an artillery round with a theoretical range of 150 km requires specialist infrastructure and expertise. Tiberius Aerospace has entered into a CRADA with the US Army that may provide just that.
By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on August 6, 2026.
Tiberius Aerospace has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC), according to an August 5 press release. The CRADA gives munitions startup structured access to Army research expertise and test infrastructure as it continues developing Sceptre, its ramjet-powered 155mm precision artillery round.
This agreement builds upon several recent milestones for Tiberius and Sceptre. In April this year, the company announced the first successful test of its ramjet system; that test demonstrated the successful ignition of the ramjet motor. It also validated the previously stated performance including the round’s 150 km range.
And, in September 2025, the UK MoD signed a contract for the development and trials of the Sceptre. Together, these milestones reflect growing technical maturity and customer interest. But what does the CRADA bring to Tiberius Aerospace?
What is a CRADA?
Graphic showing the launch process of the Sceptre 155 mm artillery round. Credit: Tiberius Aerospace.
A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center is a legal framework that allows non-federal entities to collaborate directly with Army researchers on armaments technology. This might include defence companies, commercial tech companies, academic institutions, and state or local governments.
It is not a guaranteed route to a contract with the US Army but does indicate that the Sceptre is a product or capability that has some crossover with areas of interest to the Army. It is known that BAE Systems, the Nammo/Boeing team, and General Atomics are all developing very long-range artillery munitions angled towards US requirements.
Under federal law (15 U.S.C. 3710a), the DEVCOM Armaments Center cannot transfer federal funds to the non-federal partner. Instead, the partner can fund Army research efforts or contribute in-kind resources, while DEVCOM AC contributes specialised equipment, facilities, personnel, and intellectual property.
For Tiberius Aerospace, one of the benefits of the CRADA is likely to be the access to US Army infrastructure. CRADA partners gain access to unique military testing grounds, advanced laboratories and facilities at the Picatinny Arsenal. It would be incredibly expensive for a private firm to replicate the facilities available there. Given what Tiberius is trying to develop – a liquid ramjet powered artillery round – there is a lot of engineering and development that needs to be done.
The company was also running its own, self-funded aggressive testing cycle with monthly tests of the Sceptre using a howitzer that the Tiberius team had managed to gain access to. So, it stands to reason that the CRADA may help Tiberius to test the round more extensively and in different scenarios.
Calibre comment: Artillery to ease the burden on missiles
According to anonymous sources quoted by Reuters, the US has used “virtually all” of its long-range missile stockpile in the war against Iran. This includes things like the ATACMS as well as the new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) from Lockheed Martin. That all of the PrSMs have been used is not particularly surprising; the first early operational capability missiles were only delivered in December 2023, and a large production contract enabling production expansion was awarded in March 2025.
However, the fact remains that the war has placed a significant strain on US stockpiles, much of which were focused on destroying Iranian air defence systems, missile launchers, and infrastructure. It stands to reason that long-range artillery – those munitions with a range up to 150 km – could support those missions to some extent. At least in the Middle East where the geography suits ground-based fires. With this in mind, it is well worth watching the progress of Tiberius Aerospace and the Sceptre round, as well as the others that it is competing with. The technology is interesting, and so is the way that they will be employed if the US takes them into service.
The lead image shows a 155 mm Sceptre ramjet powered round during a test firing. Credit: Tiberius Aerospace.