Focus Graphite Achieves First Aerospace Validation with Lac Knife Graphite in a Successful Hypersonic Rocket Launch
Focus Graphite (OTCQB: FCSMF) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of Pluto Aerospace's Dash 1 Flight 003 solid-fuel rocket, featuring nozzle components made from Focus' Lac Knife graphite. The launch took place on August 23, 2025, in the Mojave Desert test range, reaching an altitude of over 45,000 feet.
The test demonstrated the performance of Lac Knife graphite in extreme conditions, with nozzle temperatures exceeding 3,000掳颁. The project was completed in collaboration with American Energy Technologies Company, Pluto Aerospace, and ACP Technologies, using entirely North American-sourced materials.
This marks Focus Graphite's first real-world aerospace and defense application test, with plans for future launches including trials of graphene-based coatings for icephobic and radar-suppression applications on rocket fins, also applicable to UAV drone technology.
Focus Graphite (OTCQB: FCSMF) ha raggiunto un importante traguardo con il lancio riuscito del razzo a combustibile solido Dash 1 Flight 003 di Pluto Aerospace, dotato di componenti dell'ugello realizzati in Lac Knife graphite di Focus. Il lancio 猫 avvenuto il 23 agosto 2025 nel poligono di prova del deserto del Mojave, raggiungendo un'altitudine di oltre 45.000 piedi.
Il test ha dimostrato le prestazioni del Lac Knife graphite in condizioni estreme, con temperature dell'ugello superiori a 3.000掳颁. Il progetto 猫 stato portato a termine in collaborazione con American Energy Technologies Company, Pluto Aerospace e ACP Technologies, utilizzando materiali interamente di origine nordamericana.
Si tratta del primo test applicativo reale di Focus Graphite nel settore aerospaziale e della difesa, e sono previsti lanci futuri che includeranno prove di rivestimenti a base di grafene per applicazioni icephobic e di soppressione radar sulle alette del razzo, con impiego anche nella tecnologia dei droni UAV.
Focus Graphite (OTCQB: FCSMF) ha alcanzado un hito significativo con el lanzamiento exitoso del cohete de combustible s贸lido Dash 1 Flight 003 de Pluto Aerospace, que cont贸 con componentes de tobera fabricados con Lac Knife graphite de Focus. El lanzamiento tuvo lugar el 23 de agosto de 2025 en el campo de pruebas del desierto de Mojave, alcanzando una altitud de m谩s de 45.000 pies.
La prueba demostr贸 el rendimiento del Lac Knife graphite en condiciones extremas, con temperaturas de tobera superiores a 3.000掳颁. El proyecto se complet贸 en colaboraci贸n con American Energy Technologies Company, Pluto Aerospace y ACP Technologies, utilizando materiales 铆ntegramente originarios de Norteam茅rica.
Este es el primer ensayo en un entorno real de Focus Graphite en aplicaciones aeroespaciales y de defensa, y se planean futuros lanzamientos que incluir谩n ensayos de recubrimientos a base de grafeno para aplicaciones icephobic y de supresi贸n de radar en las aletas del cohete, aplicables tambi茅n a la tecnolog铆a de drones UAV.
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Focus Graphite (OTCQB: FCSMF) a atteint une 茅tape importante avec le lancement r茅ussi de la fus茅e 脿 propergol solide Dash 1 Flight 003 de Pluto Aerospace, 茅quip茅e de pi猫ces de tuy猫re fabriqu茅es en graphite Lac Knife de Focus. Le lancement a eu lieu le 23 ao没t 2025 sur le site d'essai du d茅sert de Mojave, atteignant une altitude de plus de 45 000 pieds.
Le test a d茅montr茅 les performances du graphite Lac Knife dans des conditions extr锚mes, avec des temp茅ratures de tuy猫re d茅passant 3 000掳C. Le projet a 茅t茅 men茅 en collaboration avec American Energy Technologies Company, Pluto Aerospace et ACP Technologies, en utilisant des mat茅riaux enti猫rement d'origine nord-am茅ricaine.
Ceci constitue le premier test en conditions r茅elles de Focus Graphite dans des applications a茅rospatiales et de d茅fense. Des lancements futurs sont pr茅vus, incluant des essais de rev锚tements 脿 base de graph猫ne pour des applications anti-givre (icephobic) et de suppression radar sur les ailerons de la fus茅e, applicables 茅galement aux technologies de drones UAV.
Focus Graphite (OTCQB: FCSMF) hat einen wichtigen Meilenstein erreicht: den erfolgreichen Start der Pluto Aerospace Dash 1 Flight 003 Feststoffrakete, deren D眉senteile aus Focus' Lac Knife Graphit gefertigt wurden. Der Start erfolgte am 23. August 2025 auf dem Testgel盲nde in der Mojave-W眉ste und erreichte eine H枚he von 眉ber 45.000 Fu脽.
Der Test zeigte die Leistungsf盲higkeit des Lac Knife Graphits unter extremen Bedingungen, wobei D眉sentemperaturen von 眉ber 3.000掳颁 auftraten. Das Projekt wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit American Energy Technologies Company, Pluto Aerospace und ACP Technologies durchgef眉hrt und verwendete ausschlie脽lich in Nordamerika beschaffte Materialien.
Dies ist der erste reale Anwendertest von Focus Graphite im Luft- und Raumfahrt- sowie Verteidigungsbereich. F眉r zuk眉nftige Starts sind Tests mit graphene-basierten Beschichtungen geplant, die icephobic- und Radarunterdr眉ckungsfunktionen an den Leitfl盲chen der Rakete bieten und sich auch auf UAV-Drohnen-Technologie 眉bertragen lassen.
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Successful launch marks Focus Graphite's entry into real-world defense and aerospace applications
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2025) - Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) ("Focus" or the "Company"), a leading Canadian graphite developer advancing high-grade projects in Québec, is pleased to announce the successful launch of Pluto Aerospace's Dash 1 Flight 003 solid-fuel rocket, featuring nozzle components developed using graphite from Focus' Lac Knife project. The project was completed in collaboration with American Energy Technologies Company ("AETC"), Pluto Aerospace ("Pluto"), a Purdue Strategic Ventures portfolio company, with additional support from ACP Technologies ("ACP"). AETC utilized Lac Knife natural graphite and synthetic graphite to produce a near-net shape manufactured graphite nozzle, which was successfully integrated into the Dash 1 sounding hypersonic rocket.
The launch took place on August 23, 2025, at 8:21 a.m. Pacific Time from the Mojave Desert test range, located between Edwards Air Force Base and NAWCWD China Lake in California. The rocket reached an altitude of more than 45,000 feet and achieved record-setting flight duration and range for Pluto Aerospace. The test program evaluated hypersonic performance and thermal resistivity, with nozzle temperatures exceeding 3,000°C. The rocket was built entirely with North American-sourced materials and components. Representatives from Pluto, AETC, Focus, ACP-T, and the United States government were in attendance for the launch. The launch marks the Company's first real-world, high-fidelity aerospace and defense application test and follows months of extensive process optimizations which led to this historic flight.
Data collected from the launch will further validate the performance characteristics of Lac Knife graphite in high-temperature and high-stress hypersonic environments relevant to surface-to-air defense systems, and commercial rocketry alike. Focus anticipates continued participation in upcoming launches, including trials involving graphene-based coatings produced from Lac Knife graphite, designed for icephobic and radar-suppression applications on rocket fins. These developments are also transferable to unmanned air vehicle (UAV) drone technology, a growing area of interest for the Company.
"This is a landmark moment for Focus Graphite, and we are proud to see Lac Knife material play a role in such an important aerospace demonstration," said Jason Latkowcer, Vice President, Corporate Development. "We thank our partners at AETC and Pluto Aerospace for including us in this historic test. The results reaffirm that Lac Knife large and jumbo flake graphite possesses the qualities required for advanced, high-performance applications in defense and aerospace. With governments around the world increasing investments in national security - such as through NATO commitments and initiatives like the Golden Dome - Focus is positioning itself to play a critical role in supplying North American-sourced graphite for these strategic needs."
This latest flight aligns with Pluto Aerospace's broader mission to make high-speed, hypersonic testing more accessible to small businesses and start-ups - a key advantage highlighted in recent coverage by the Purdue Research Foundation. The Dash platform provides rapid, cost-effective access to hypersonic test environments that typically require substantial budgets and lengthy pre-qualification timelines.
As the demand for domestic manufacturing of advanced materials continues to grow, Focus Graphite remains committed to supporting onshoring initiatives and strengthening critical mineral supply chains essential to national security.
Image 1: Pluto Aerospace's Dash 1 Flight 003 solid-fuel rocket featuring AETC's graphite nozzle manufactured with Lac Knife graphite.
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Image 2: Launch of Pluto Aerospace's Dash 1 Flight 003 solid-fuel rocket on August 23, 2025.
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About Pluto Aerospace
Pluto is an Indiana based start-up building the fastest path from lab bench to hypersonic flight. Our test vehicles are designed for flexibility and affordability, enabling researchers, developers, and mission designers to rapidly iterate and make a make a meaningful impact on national security.
For more information, please visit .
About Purdue Strategic Ventures
Purdue Strategic Ventures provides strategic support, early-stage investment and community activation for Purdue-connected, venture-scale start-ups with strong growth potential across agricultural, deep tech, digital tech, mobility and life sciences. Within the Purdue Research Foundation, Strategic Ventures unlocks opportunities for last start-up growth, transforming potential into performance for portfolio companies. Strategic Ventures is the nexus between entrepreneurial talent and strategic capital, driving Boilermaker innovations and investment success.
For more information, please visit .
About American Energy Technologies Company
American Energy Technologies Co. (AETC) is a woman-owned, privately held business which conducts operations out of the greater Chicago area. In its Wheeling, IL facility (https://www.usaenergytech.com/post/grand-opening-of-critical-minerals-processing-facility-supporting-us-energy-transition-in-chicagolan) AETC operates three business units: a manufacturing plant making battery-ready graphite and carbon materials, a pilot demonstration facility for battery materials and graphite dispersions, and a fully-functional applications laboratory supporting the above business units. Currently, AETC is one out of just three in total organizations which commercially manufacture lithium-ion battery-ready graphite in the United States. Furthermore, AETC's Wheeling, IL plant is currently the only industrial end-to-end commercial manufacturer of spherical purified surface coated natural graphite in the US. In doing so, the company develops and operates an upstream ore beneficiation, unique refining, particle spheroidization, and carbon coating technologies. AETC is both developing and produces spherical graphite (natural and synthetic), expanded graphite, partially graphitized nanostructured carbons, ultra-high purity graphite-based electrically conductive inks, paints, and coatings which find use within the industry. AETC is a proud supply chain member of electric vehicles and an approved supplier to twelve battery manufacturers and one fuel cell producer.
For more information, please visit
About ACP Technologies
ACP Technologies is a company focused on developing a domestic source of affordable, carbon-based materials. Our products are used to produce several strategic materials such as carbon fiber, synthetic graphite, carbon-carbon composites and more. ACPT provides manufacturers with low-cost alternatives to raw materials traditionally sourced almost exclusively from other countries.
For more information, please visit .
About Focus Graphite Advanced Materials Inc.
Focus Graphite Advanced Materials is redefining the future of critical minerals with two
Our Lac Tétépisca project further strengthens our portfolio, with the potential to be one of the largest and highest-purity and grade graphite deposits in North America. At Focus, we go beyond mining - we are pioneering environmentally sustainable processing solutions and innovative battery technologies, including our patent-pending silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite, designed to enhance battery performance and efficiency.
Our commitment to innovation ensures a chemical-free, eco-friendly supply chain from mine to market. Collaboration is at the core of our vision. We actively partner with industry leaders, research institutions, and government agencies to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation graphite materials. As a North American company, we are dedicated to securing a resilient, locally sourced supply of critical minerals - reducing dependence on foreign-controlled markets and driving the transition to a sustainable future.
For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit
Investors Contact:
Dean Hanisch
CEO, Focus Graphite Inc.
[email protected]
+1 (613) 612-6060
Jason Latkowcer
VP Corporate Development
[email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated," and similar expressions, as well as statements relating to matters that are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.
In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other matters: the potential performance and suitability of Lac Knife graphite for aerospace and defense applications; the anticipated benefits of the Company's collaboration with Pluto Aerospace and AETC; the expected use of data collected from the launch to validate Lac Knife graphite in high-temperature, high-stress environments; the Company's intention to participate in additional rocket launches and related testing programs, including applications involving graphene-based coatings; and Focus Graphite's positioning as a potential supplier of critical graphite materials to defense, aerospace, and drone markets in North America and internationally.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to market conditions, regulatory approvals, changes in economic conditions, the ability to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms or at all, operational risks associated with mineral exploration and development, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+.
The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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FAQ
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