Covenant exits stealth with a cruise missile priced for volume
Anthem pairs a heavy payload with commercial parts, four-deep supplier lines and three factories, a manufacturing answer to thin Western missile stocks.
Anthem pairs a heavy payload with commercial parts, four-deep supplier lines and three factories, a manufacturing answer to thin Western missile stocks.
Defense startup Covenant emerged from stealth Wednesday, opened a 105,000-square-foot missile plant in Dallas and disclosed more than $250 million raised across three rounds, CNBC reported. Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux, 8VC, Aleph and Lightspeed invested.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Anthem?
A ground-launched cruise missile carrying a payload of more than 200 kilograms (441 pounds), powered by a solid rocket motor for takeoff and a heavy-fuel jet engine in cruise, per Reuters. Covenant has not disclosed its range.
How much does it cost?
Covenant is targeting a mid-six-figure price per missile once at full-rate production, executives told Reuters. That is pitched against Tomahawk and JASSM-ER, the long-range systems built by RTX Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
Where will Anthem be built?
Three sites: a new 105,000-square-foot plant in Dallas, a 110,000-square-foot facility in Saxony, Germany, and a 32,000-square-foot site in northern Israel, according to the company announcement. Dallas and Saxony are each rated for 5,000 units a year, the Israeli site for 2,000.
Who is funding the company?
Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux, 8VC, Aleph and Lightspeed, across three rounds totaling more than $250 million, CNBC reported. Covenant was founded in 2024 and employs more than 200 people across the United States, Germany and Israel.
Has anyone ordered it?
Covenant says it has booked about $150 million in orders covering qualification, research, development and production. It holds an Other Transaction Agreement with the U.S. Army for accelerated test and qualification, and a U.S. Navy Rapid Capabilities Office contract worth roughly $70 million to adapt Anthem for maritime use.
When do deliveries start?
An international customer is due to begin taking delivery of German-built Anthems by the end of 2026, with U.S. Army deliveries expected in 2027, executives told Reuters. Serial production in Dallas begins in the first quarter of 2027.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.