LSE-listed Blencowe Resources has reported further successful testing of its Orom-Cross graphite products within advanced aerospace and defence applications.

On August 18, Blencowe COO Iain Wearing attended a rocket test programme in Las Cruces, New Mexico, alongside business manufacturing and research firm American Energy Technologies Co (AETC), aerospace company Pluto Aerospace, Purdue University and US government agencies.

Blencowe highlights that the successful Pluto Aerospace solid-fuel rocket flight has achieved a maximum speed of Mach 5.5 and acceleration approaching 150G, representing a substantial increase in speed and acceleration from the previous test programme undertaken in April.

Moreover, Blencowe has provided graphite concentrates from Orom-Cross to technical partner AETC, which manufactured mouldings for rocket and missile exhaust nozzles replacing a proportion of the synthetic graphites normally used in these applications.

The resultant nozzles underwent rigorous testing prior to installation on the rocket.

The company says that the successful test further demonstrates the potential for Orom-Cross graphite to access specialist, high-value aerospace and defence markets, thereby supporting Blencowe’s strategy to continually develop higher-value product pathways as Orom-Cross advances towards production.

“These results continue to highlight the emergence of Orom-Cross graphite as an important source of high-quality graphite products for use in military and aerospace applications.

“There are relatively few graphite projects worldwide capable of supplying the quality of products required for these specialist applications, which may open new offtake relationships and strategic opportunities and places Orom-Cross in a strong position moving forward as we advance towards first production,” says Blencowe executive chairperson Cameron Pearce.

The initial testing programme is being undertaken with Pluto Aerospace for hypersonic sub-orbital rockets, with orbital testing planned for the final quarter of 2026.

“As we complete funding for P1 production and move to building the first stage of operations, we are continuously testing new products and adding new offtakers, each of which builds further value within the project.

“Our strategy is to differentiate Orom-Cross from other graphite projects by targeting the most lucrative markets available to us, through our products and strategic relationships, Pearce concludes.