Air-breathing hypersonic propulsion
Design Simplicity. Decisive Results.
Vaya hybrid propulsion delivers an unprecedented combination of performance, versatility, and operational simplicity — giving US warfighters longer range, greater maneuverability, and safer logistics than any conventional missile propulsion system available today.
Active USAF Contract
SBIR Phase 1 - Hypersonic Propulsion
01
EXTENDED RANGE
Stop, coast, and restart capability provides significantly increased engagement range without sacrificing maneuverability.
02
PRECISE THROTTLE CONTROL
Real-time oxidizer flow modulation enables unprecedented maneuverability — mimicking any flight profile, at any stage of flight.
03
SAFER PROPELLANTS
Non-explosive, non-toxic propellants eliminate costly and dangerous storage, transport, and handling requirements across the full logistics chain.
04
LONG-TERM READINESS
Storable propellants loaded at the factory — Vaya-powered missiles remain launch-ready at a moment's notice without on-site fueling operations.
ACTIVE CONTRACT
USAF SBIR
Phase I — Hypersonic propulsion feasibility study, commenced May 2024
AFWERX AWARD
$1.2M
Phase II contract — hypersonic propulsion development
PROGRAM ADVISORS
Gen. Clark & Gen. Abrams
Ret. US Army 4-star generals advising the board
PROPELLANT CLASS
Non-explosive
Non-toxic, storable — safer at every stage of the logistics chain
ACTIVE CONTRACT
USAF SBIR
Phase I — Hypersonic propulsion feasibility study, commenced May 2024
AFWERX AWARD
$1.2M
Phase II contract — hypersonic propulsion development
PROGRAM ADVISORS
Gen. Clark & Gen. Abrams
Ret. US Army 4-star generals advising the board
PROPELLANT CLASS
Non-explosive
Non-toxic, storable — safer at every stage of the logistics chain
ACTIVE CONTRACT
USAF SBIR
Phase I — Hypersonic propulsion feasibility study, commenced May 2024
AFWERX AWARD
$1.2M
Phase II contract — hypersonic propulsion development
PROGRAM ADVISORS
Gen. Clark & Gen. Abrams
Ret. US Army 4-star generals advising the board
PROPELLANT CLASS
Non-explosive
Non-toxic, storable — safer at every stage of the logistics chain
MISSILE PROPULSION
Versatile & Powerful - Across Every Mission Profile
PRECISE THROTTLING
By modulating oxidizer flow, Vaya-powered missiles achieve real-time throttle control at any stage of flight — enabling custom-tailored flight profiles that are significantly harder for adversaries to classify and intercept.
RESTART CAPABILITY
Shut down and restart repeatedly and reliably. By coasting to apogee and restarting for terminal guidance, engagement range is significantly increased. Trajectory can also be adjusted in real time in response to evolving mission priorities.
EVASION & SURVIVABILITY
Variable thrust profiles make Vaya-powered missiles significantly harder for adversary air defense systems to classify and engage — mimicking ballistic trajectories before resuming powered flight, penetrating the most advanced A2/AD environments.
RANGE
Sig. ↑
Coast-and-restart increases engagement range significantly vs. conventional solid propulsion
STORAGE SAFETY
Non-explosive
Eliminates explosive storage requirements across the full logistics chain
READINESS
Instant↗
Storable propellants — ready to launch at a moment's notice, no fueling operations
PLATFORMS
Any↔
Designed for mass manufacturing and physical scalability to fit any launcher platform
PRECISE THROTTLING
By modulating oxidizer flow, Vaya-powered missiles achieve real-time throttle control at any stage of flight — enabling custom-tailored flight profiles that are significantly harder for adversaries to classify and intercept.
RESTART CAPABILITY
Shut down and restart repeatedly and reliably. By coasting to apogee and restarting for terminal guidance, engagement range is significantly increased. Trajectory can also be adjusted in real time in response to evolving mission priorities.
EVASION & SURVIVABILITY
Variable thrust profiles make Vaya-powered missiles significantly harder for adversary air defense systems to classify and engage — mimicking ballistic trajectories before resuming powered flight, penetrating the most advanced A2/AD environments.
RANGE
Sig. ↑
Coast-and-restart increases engagement range significantly vs. conventional solid propulsion
STORAGE SAFETY
Non-explosive
Eliminates explosive storage requirements across the full logistics chain
READINESS
Instant↗
Storable propellants — ready to launch at a moment's notice, no fueling operations
PLATFORMS
Any↔
Designed for mass manufacturing and physical scalability to fit any launcher platform
AIRBREATHING HYPERSONIC PROPULSION
The Hybrid Rocket Ejector-Ramjet
01
EXTENDED HYPERSONIC RANGE
Combines Vaya's throttle control capability with the higher efficiency of airbreathing propulsion — significantly extending range beyond what rocket-only hypersonic systems can achieve.
02
REAL-TIME TARGET ADJUSTMENT
Throttle control enables trajectory and target adjustments during flight — responding to evolving mission priorities at hypersonic speeds in ways that conventional systems cannot.
03
ADVANCED A2/AD PENETRATION
Designed to penetrate the most advanced defense systems in the world — strengthening American capability to operate in contested environments including advanced Anti-Access/Area Denial zones.
04
ENHANCED SURVIVABILITY
Variable thrust profiles and real-time trajectory control increase survivability against advanced missile defense systems — significantly harder to classify, track, and engage than conventional hypersonic vehicles.
ACTIVE PROGRAM
USAF SBIR Phase 1 — Hypersonic Propulsion Feasibility Study
In May 2024, Vaya commenced work with the United States Air Force to study the feasibility of HRER propulsion to overcome advanced missile defense systems. The program focuses on developing the HRER platform to penetrate the most advanced defense systems in the world.
COMMENCED
May 2024
CUSTOMER
US Air Force
PROGRAM
SBIR Phase 1
AFWERX PHASE II CONTRACT
$1.2M — Hypersonic Propulsion Development
Vaya selected for $1.2M AFWERX Phase II contract to advance hypersonic propulsion — validating the HRER platform's potential for operational deployment.
TECHNOLOGY BASIS
Adapted from Vaya Space Propulsion Platform
The HRER directly inherits the throttle control, restart capability, and non-explosive propellant technology from Vaya's orbital launch and in-space propulsion systems — proven heritage in a new application.
STRATEGIC ADVISORS
Gen. Wesley K. Clark & Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams
Retired US Army 4-star generals serving as advisors to the Vaya board — bringing decades of operational and strategic defense leadership to the program.
01
EXTENDED HYPERSONIC RANGE
Combines Vaya's throttle control capability with the higher efficiency of airbreathing propulsion — significantly extending range beyond what rocket-only hypersonic systems can achieve.
02
REAL-TIME TARGET ADJUSTMENT
Throttle control enables trajectory and target adjustments during flight — responding to evolving mission priorities at hypersonic speeds in ways that conventional systems cannot.
03
ADVANCED A2/AD PENETRATION
Designed to penetrate the most advanced defense systems in the world — strengthening American capability to operate in contested environments including advanced Anti-Access/Area Denial zones.
04
ENHANCED SURVIVABILITY
Variable thrust profiles and real-time trajectory control increase survivability against advanced missile defense systems — significantly harder to classify, track, and engage than conventional hypersonic vehicles.
ACTIVE PROGRAM
USAF SBIR Phase 1 — Hypersonic Propulsion Feasibility Study
In May 2024, Vaya commenced work with the United States Air Force to study the feasibility of HRER propulsion to overcome advanced missile defense systems. The program focuses on developing the HRER platform to penetrate the most advanced defense systems in the world.
COMMENCED
May 2024
CUSTOMER
US Air Force
PROGRAM
SBIR Phase 1
AFWERX PHASE II CONTRACT
$1.2M — Hypersonic Propulsion Development
Vaya selected for $1.2M AFWERX Phase II contract to advance hypersonic propulsion — validating the HRER platform's potential for operational deployment.
TECHNOLOGY BASIS
Adapted from Vaya Space Propulsion Platform
The HRER directly inherits the throttle control, restart capability, and non-explosive propellant technology from Vaya's orbital launch and in-space propulsion systems — proven heritage in a new application.
STRATEGIC ADVISORS
Gen. Wesley K. Clark & Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams
Retired US Army 4-star generals serving as advisors to the Vaya board — bringing decades of operational and strategic defense leadership to the program.
MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN
Rapid, Scalable, Resilient By Design
MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN
Rapid, Scalable, Resilient By Design
COMMODITIZED SUPPLY CHAIN
Built around widely available recycled thermoplastic and commercial 3D printers — a highly resilient supply chain with no single points of failure and no exotic or controlled materials dependencies.
MASS MANUFACTURING READY
Designed for mass manufacturing from the ground up — additive manufacturing processes scale linearly with demand, enabling rapid production surge without facility expansion or retooling.
PLATFORM SCALABILITY
Designed to fit any launcher platform — the same propulsion architecture scales from small tactical missiles to large strategic systems without fundamental redesign, maximizing interoperability across programs.
FLORIDA-BASED PRODUCTION
Designed, manufactured, and tested at Vaya's Cocoa, FL campus — a three-facility operation within a four-mile radius supporting rapid prototyping, production, and quality assurance in a single domestic location.
99%
RECYCLED FUEL
Post-industrial thermoplastic
<5 mo
DESIGN TO HOT-FIRE
Rapid development cycle
0
EXOTIC MATERIALS
Commercially available inputs
3
FACILITIES
Within 4 miles, Cocoa FL
COMMODITIZED SUPPLY CHAIN
Built around widely available recycled thermoplastic and commercial 3D printers — a highly resilient supply chain with no single points of failure and no exotic or controlled materials dependencies.
MASS MANUFACTURING READY
Designed for mass manufacturing from the ground up — additive manufacturing processes scale linearly with demand, enabling rapid production surge without facility expansion or retooling.
PLATFORM SCALABILITY
Designed to fit any launcher platform — the same propulsion architecture scales from small tactical missiles to large strategic systems without fundamental redesign, maximizing interoperability across programs.
FLORIDA-BASED PRODUCTION
Designed, manufactured, and tested at Vaya's Cocoa, FL campus — a three-facility operation within a four-mile radius supporting rapid prototyping, production, and quality assurance in a single domestic location.
GET IN TOUCH
Discuss Your Program
GET IN TOUCH
Discuss Your Program
Vaya works directly with defense primes, program offices, and government customers to define, develop, and deliver propulsion solutions for tactical and strategic missile programs — from initial feasibility through production.
All inquiries are treated as confidential. For classified program discussions, please contact us directly to arrange appropriate channels.
PROGRAM INQUIRY
DEFENSE / MISSILE PROPULSION
PROGRAM INQUIRY
DEFENSE / MISSILE PROPULSION
The HRER is an airbreathing hypersonic engine platform adapted from Vaya's space propulsion technology — designed to enable the highest-range, most controllable hypersonic missiles in the world.