Advanced Propellants for

the Next Generation of Defense and Space

CycloKinetics is a U.S.-based propellant technology company developing high-performance, drop-in fuels for aerospace and defense applications.

Built to outperform conventional propellants, CycloKinetics solutions enable platforms to fly farther, higher, faster, longer, and carry more.

Mission Profiles

Unlocking the Future of Aerospace and Defense

CycloKinetics develops advanced propellants with unique molecular properties which both enable next-generation aerospace and defense platforms and enhance the performance of existing platforms. Its fuels are drop-in replacements for the current fuels which power turbine-powered platforms, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), long-range and attritable missiles, next-generation propulsion, and space launch systems, allowing these platforms to fly farther, faster, higher, longer and carry more. Military testing across more than ten applications, including both ground and flight tests on currently fielded systems, has demonstrated measurable improvements in mission performance.

Turbines, CCA, UAS, and C-UAS

CycloKinetics propellants are higher-energy-density, drop-in replacements for JP-5 and JP-8, enhancing the performance of existing military aircraft platforms.

Improved energy density enables greater range and endurance, while lower soot emissions extend maintenance intervals and improve operational availability. Superior low-temperature performance supports higher operational ceilings and expanded mission capability.

Products

A Portfolio of Advanced Propellants

CycloKinetics manufactures a suite of high-performance, 100% drop-in liquid propellants engineered to enhance mission capability across aerospace and defense applications.

Each product is designed to replace existing fuels while delivering measurable gains in range, endurance, speed, altitude, payload capacity, and operational performance — without requiring changes to propulsion systems or infrastructure.

Enabling Both Domestic and In-Theater Manufacturing

CycloKinetics propellants are produced in the United States, supporting secure and scalable domestic supply for defense and aerospace applications. The company's industrial manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah became operational in 2025, with deliveries beginning under Department of War contracts in Q2 2025. Our manufacturing facilities are expanding rapidly and ready to support our customers, whether their platforms are at large-scale production or just scaling up.

CycloKinetics' production process is designed to be feedstock-flexible, allowing manufacturing to be optimized for locally available resources. This approach supports resilient domestic supply chains while enabling in-theater production capabilities in contested operational environments.

Team

CycloKinetics' team is experienced in operational excellence to support future growth and success

Mukund Karanjikar, PhD

25+ years in energy, chemicals, and advanced technologies, former Technology Holding and Chevron, PhD Chemical Engineering

Mukund Karanjikar, PhD

CEO and Founder

Robert Price, PhD

15+ years developing and leading breakthrough technologies, PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Robert Price, PhD

Chief Technology Officer

Jeff King

25+ years of experience in investment banking and executive-level positions in the energy sector

Jeff King

Chief Financial Officer

Oscar N Ruiz, PhD

15+ years in advanced fuels for aerospace and defense, AFRL Fellow, PhD in Biomolecular Sciences

Oscar N Ruiz, PhD

Senior Vice President - Strategy & Solutions

Charlotte Herhold

10+ years in low-carbon and traditional energy engineering and consulting, MIT BS in mechanical engineering

Charlotte Herhold

VP, Strategy and BD

Charlie Palfreyman, MBA

7+ years in finance, strategy, and mergers and acquisitions consulting, MBA from Dartmouth College

Charlie Palfreyman, MBA

Chief of Staff, Dir Special Projects

Oyvind Hatlevik, PhD

20+ years in energy technology development and scale-up. PhD in Inorganic Chemistry

Oyvind Hatlevik, PhD

Research Fellow

Tom Price, MBA

15+ years of experience directing engineering and leading large capital projects in aerospace and defense

Tom Price, MBA

Senior Director, Capital Projects

Chris Smith, PhD

20+ years in chemistry and molecular biology research, PhD in Molecular Biology

Chris Smith, PhD

Senior Director, R&D

Brad Nance

30+ years designing and consulting large-scale engineering projects at ExxonMobil, NASA, and Lockheed

Brad Nance

Senior Director, Procurement

Michael Mella, ME

10+ years in chemical and process engineering and design at Micron, Masters in Engineering Management

Michael Mella, ME

Director, Process Technology

Mothi Viswanathan, PhD

10+ years of experience in fermentation, PhD in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Mothi Viswanathan, PhD

Director, Fermentation

Patricia Sosa

30+ years in HR, managing HR departments at Ceramatec and HUB International

Patricia Sosa

Director, Human Resources

Jackson Renouf

20+ years leading finance and accounting across high-growth startups, MBA from University of Southern California

Jackson Renouf

Director of Finance

Board of Directors

Andrew Broderick

Managing Director of Indigo Partners LLC, a private equity fund focused on air transportation

Andrew Broderick

Indigo Partners

Ash Upadhyaya

Founder and Managing Partner of Cleanhill Partners, an innovative investment firm partnering with energy transition businesses

Ash Upadhyaya

Cleanhill Partners

General Tod D. Wolters

U.S. Air Force four-star general (retired), former Commander of U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe

General Tod D. Wolters

U.S. Air Force (Retired)

Careers

We are advancing the next generation of high-performance propellants for aerospace and defense. Our highly innovative technology allows us to harness existing energy from biomass and convert it to superior performance fuels and propellants across aviation, aerospace, and defense applications.

We are a team of engineers, scientists, and operators driven by performance, innovation, and national security impact focused on building scalable, domestic energy solutions that power the future of propulsion.

View Job Openings

CycloKinetics is a venture-backed company based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

News

April 13, 2026

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April 13, 2026

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April 13, 2026

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