Tiberius Aerospace Unveils ‘Sceptre’ Ramjet 155mm Artillery Round
Tiberius Aerospace is a British defense-technology startup founded in 2022 by Silicon Valley veterans, led by CEO Chad Steelberg, a tech entrepreneur, and CSO Andy Baynes. The firm spent roughly three years in stealth development before emerging publicly. Its leadership cites a mission to deliver “next-generation weapon systems” with unmatched precision and efficiency. Tiberius formally announced Sceptre (TRBM 155HG) at a London press event on 19 May 2025, just before the Future Artillery conference (May 20–22). The TRBM 155HG has been under development since the company’s founding, with Tiberius conducting regular field trials (roughly every 3–4 weeks) from 155mm howitzers like the BAE Systems M777. According to company statements, the round emerged after a three-year development cycle. Steelberg says full-rate production could begin by the end of 2025 and that several allied customers are already in talks or onboard. The design is intended to be fired from standard NATO 155mm guns (though its extra length may require autoloader modifications).
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The Sceptre is a 155mm artillery shell powered by an onboard liquid-fuel ramjet. Upon firing (with muzzle velocity around Mach 2.4), its nose-mounted ramjet ignites and accelerates the round to about Mach 3.5 in seconds. It can reach altitudes above 65,000 feet (nearly 20 km), putting it beyond most air defenses and electronic jamming zones. Advanced guidance (a combination of GPS, inertial sensors, and AI) allows extremely high accuracy. Physically, Sceptre weighs about 47.5 kg in total with a 5.2 kg warhead. It is compatible with existing 155mm howitzers, enabling “surgical” precision strikes without needing new launch vehicles.
Sceptre’s extended range and precision promise to transform modern artillery. With a stated maximum range around 150 km, it far exceeds the reach of conventional shells and approaches that of rocket artillery or missiles. This allows friendly forces to hit high-value or time-sensitive targets deep behind enemy lines while keeping their guns well outside counter-battery danger. The round’s supersonic speed and high-altitude flight make it difficult to intercept, and its sub-5 m accuracy (in GPS-contested environments) minimizes collateral damage.
The unveiling of Sceptre TRBM 155HG positions Tiberius Aerospace as a disruptive force in the long range precision fires space. The company is poised to influence the next generation of artillery warfare across allied forces by potentially delivering cutting-edge precision firepower through an innovative funding and development model.