Artillery shells could be edging closer to missile-like performance following a breakthrough from Tiberius Aerospace.
The California-based firm successfully launched its “Sceptre” munition from a 155mm howitzer in a recent demonstration, showing that a liquid-fuelled ramjet projectile can achieve sustained flight from a NATO-standard weapon system.
During the test in New Mexico, Sceptre’s ramjet engine ignited after being exposed to launch forces of around 18,000 times Earth’s gravity, while maintaining stable flight and controlled rotation.
The milestone points to a shift in capability, suggesting artillery systems could replicate missile-level speeds at a significantly lower cost.
“This is a genuine world-first breakthrough,” Tiberius founder and Chief Executive Officer Chad Steelberg said.
“Having successfully proved our design and engineering methodologies, we now need to move to much larger ranges to deliver the next phase of testing, validation, and certification.”
Missiles vs. Artillery
Missile systems offer long range and high precision, but they remain costly to produce and difficult to sustain at scale.
Conventional artillery, by contrast, is cheaper and more scalable, but has traditionally lacked the range and strike performance of missiles.
Sceptre is Tiberius’ attempt to bridge that gap, combining missile-like performance with an artillery-compatible design intended for production-scale use.
The system is also designed for domestic manufacturing, allowing allied partners to produce it locally and reduce supply chain and deployment timelines.
System Projections
Based on test results, Sceptre is expected to exceed Mach 3 speeds and surpass altitudes of 65,000 feet (19,812 meters), placing it beyond the reach of most traditional jamming systems.
It is also projected to achieve ranges of up to 150 kilometers (93.2 miles), with strike accuracy within 5 meters (16 feet) even in GPS-denied conditions.
Designed for modular upgrades and multiple variants, the system is reportedly compatible with existing artillery platforms without requiring modifications.
“Sceptre is an ambitious and complex project, but these successful US test firing results prove we are quickly advancing along the right trajectory,” Steelberg stressed.
