The American defence start-up Covenant has unveiled the Anthem ground-launched cruise missile, with a payload of over 200 kilograms. The company has stated that it aims to achieve a unit price in the mid six-figure range once full-scale production begins, has around $150 million in orders and expects to produce a total of 12,000 missiles per year.
Briefly about the main points
- Anthem carries a payload of over 200 kilograms.
- Covenant has set a target price in the mid six-figure range.
- The company announced an order worth approximately 150 million dollars.
- An international buyer is expecting the German missiles by the end of 2026.
- Deliveries to the US Army are scheduled for 2027.
Testing and the intended use of the rocket
Anthem It uses a solid-fuelled rocket engine for launch and a heavy-fuel jet engine during cruise flight. According to Covenant, the rocket has been tested in over 200 flights over the past 12 months.
The company’s management is focusing development on The Pacific region and a potential conflict with China. In such a scenario, land-based missiles could be launched from allied islands near China, without relying on manned aircraft or strike groups of warships.
In April 2024, the US Army deployed to the north of a Philippine island for the first time Luson the Mid-Range Capability Typhon system, capable of launching Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles. This is a practical example of the deployment of ground-based long-range systems in the region, but does not imply the integration of Anthem into Typhon.
Orders and schedule for the first deliveries
Covenant has announced that it has already secured orders worth approximately $150 million. According to the start-up’s management, an international client is due to start receiving Anthem units assembled in Germany by the end of 2026.
The company expects deliveries to the US Army to begin in 2027. At that point, Covenant plans to start generating revenue as shipment volumes increase.
The manufacturer has not named the international customer. Meanwhile, interest in ground-based long-range, high-precision strike systems is growing in Europe: Germany is considering a purchase Tomahawk and Typhon launch systems, whilst our European partners are developing the ELSA programme.
Three factories and a supply chain for components
Covenant’s new 105,000-square-foot factory in Dallas is set to reach a production rate of 5,000 rockets per year. A site of a similar size in Saxony is also designed to produce 5,000 units, whilst the plant in northern Israel is designed for 2,000.
The company stated that it is not reliant on a single supplier: it has engaged three manufacturers of solid-propellant engines and is working on bringing a fourth on board. Covenant has also signed long-term agreements to supply over 4,000 jet engines over the next two years.
Covenant was founded in 2024. The start-up has raised over 250 million dollars from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund, and has more than 200 employees in the US, Germany and Israel.
