Exclusive: X-Bow and Lockheed collaborating amid $105 million raise

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Lockheed Martin is fast-tracking X-Bow Systems as a new, independent supplier of solid-rocket motors and other services, the defense upstart's CEO, Jason Hundley, told Axios.

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WE MAKE… Advanced Manufactured Solid Rocket Propellant

X-Bow Systems

X-Bow Systems employs a patented Advanced Manufactured Solid Rocket Propellant (AMSP) approach that revolutionizes solid rocket motor development. This method enables rapid, on-demand production, compressing the design and build cycle from months or years to mere days. This agility is ideal for cost-effective rapid prototyping and low-cost, one-off demonstrations. Furthermore, our continuous in-line mixing process enhances safety. AMSP also allows for the creation of unique propellant grains with flexible geometries, unlocking motor optimizations and tailorable performance not achievable through traditional manufacturing. This results in uniquely optimized motors designed precisely for specific needs.

WE FLY...Sub-Orbital Launch Services, and LEO-Ready for Orbit

X-Bow Systems

X-Bow Systems provides agile and responsive sub-orbital launch services and testing payloads specifically tailored for national security customers. Leveraging our disruptive, in-house Advanced Manufactured Solid Propellant (AMSP) technology, and BOLT™ family of modular boost rockets, we deliver customizable motors and vehicles for diverse mission profiles. Add a third stage and we are LEO-Ready. Our end-to-end integrated launch capabilities ensure rapid mission planning and flight timelines, with responsive payload integration and on-site launches powered by X-Bow's own high-performance solid rocket motors. This allows for flexible configurations and efficient testing of critical technologies in a sub-orbital environment.

Rocket Assisted Takeoff Motors (RATO)

X-Bow Systems

X-Bow Wins $12.2M Contract for Rapid Delivery of Advanced Drone TechNews provided by

Apr 07, 2026, 08:00 ET

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Bow Systems Inc (X-Bow), the leading non-traditional producer of advanced manufactured solid rocket motors (SRMs), sub-orbital launch solutions and defense technologies, today announced a $12.2 million contract with AEVEX to produce rocket-assisted take-off (RATO) kits for AEVEX's Disruptor drone. X-Bow will deliver hundreds of production kits and thousands of SRMs and components between March and August 2026, demonstrating its ability to rapidly transition from contract award to fielded combat capability in just a few months.

X-Bow’s RATO2 motor launching a Group 3 drone.

X-Bow's RATO² (Rapidly Assembled Tactical Option for Rocket-Assisted Takeoff ™) system, which include solid rocket motors and launch cradles, allows drones to take off from unprepared surfaces and confined spaces, significantly expanding operational flexibility in modern conflict zones.

"Our ability to go from contract award to fielded combat capability in just a few months is exactly what today's rapidly evolving defense landscape demands," said Jason Hundley, Founder and CEO of X-Bow. "This contract validates our ability to build fast, field faster and deliver now to meet urgent defense needs."

Notably, this marks the first-ever high-volume use of X-Bow's patented Additive Manufactured Solid Propellant (AMSP) in solid rocket motors, showcasing X-Bow's proprietary technology leadership. This unique propellant formulation represents a significant advancement in SRM capabilities, offering potential improvements in performance and affordability for customers.

The global military drone market is projected to grow significantly, with increasing demand for systems capable of operating in diverse environments. X-Bow's RATO² technology addresses this need by enabling drones to operate from a wider range of locations and potentially extending their payload capacity and range.

This latest contract caps a series of recent awards for X-Bow, totaling $212 million in the past six months. Unlike traditional defense contractors, X-Bow's agile approach and proprietary manufacturing processes reduce time-to-market for critical defense technologies from years to months. This rapid turnaround from contract to delivery exemplifies X-Bow's unique ability to meet the pressing demands of today's dynamic global security environment.

Looking ahead, X-Bow plans to expand its product portfolio to address emerging needs aligned with the latest defense priorities. This includes hypersonic propulsion, low-cost and advanced missile defense systems including space-based interceptors and evolved sub-orbital space launch systems. X-Bow is also enhancing its surge-capable production to meet rapidly evolving defense requirements, particularly in critical munitions and propulsion systems.

WE REVITALIZE...Energetic Manufacturing Facilities

X-Bow Systems

X-Bow brings proven energetics facility modernization expertise, as demonstrated by our selection by the US Navy's Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head for $67M in contracts to revitalize energetics facilities. Building on our 2024 GWEO RFI submission to the Australian Defence Force, we offer advanced technical capabilities, robust project management, and a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks - positioning us as a trusted partner for modernizing energetics and solid rocket motor manufacturing infrastructure.

WE BUILD...Modular Solid Rocket Motors customized to the mission.

X-Bow Systems

X-Bow Systems delivers mission-specific Solid Rocket Motors in a range of sizes, offering customizable propellants, motors, and vehicles with flexible configurations tailored precisely to mission requirements. Our approach prioritizes cost-effectiveness through low overhead and maintenance, enabling continuous upgrades and innovation while maintaining affordability. We achieve efficiency with rapid and responsive motor design, prototyping, testing, and production, ensuring short lead times and accelerated design cycles to meet critical timelines.

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Why it matters: "The Lockheed Martin Corporation, I will say, is one of the largest producers and procurers of solid-rocket motors in Western civilization," he said in an interview.

Lockheed, also the world's largest defense contractor by revenue, "does not enter these agreements lightly, is what we understand," he added. "They get their choice of investments in these areas."
The latest: The arrangement coincides with the closure of X-Bow's Series B funding round at a little more than $105 million.

Investors include Razor's Edge Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Balerion Space Ventures and Capital Factory Ventures.
Lockheed Martin Ventures and Boeing Ventures were early backers, as well.
Between the lines: X-Bow (pronounced crossbow) is among a handful of fresh SRM competitors in the U.S. The cadre's breakout comes as pricey munitions are expended across the world and the Pentagon sweats industrial health back home.

State of play: X-Bow is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is building an energetics campus near Austin, Texas. It will open soon.

The company also offers a "rocket factory in a box" for distributed, on-demand production.

Its approximately 300 employees include SpaceX alumni.
Context: X-Bow has inked contracts across the military and, Hundley said, "all the services are ... experiencing the same pinch point at the same time."

"We've been focused on two factors for the last several years: scale and affordability," he said.
The company was previously tapped for work tied to the Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon and the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike.