New Anthem long-range missile breaks cover with 440+ pound payload, 5,000+ units goal

Covenant has emerged from stealth with Anthem, a long-range strike weapon designed around a problem facing the US military: producing enough missiles for a prolonged conflict. The company says Anthem combines a heavy payload with long range and a lower production cost than comparable legacy weapons. Covenant also disclosed more than $250 million in funding across three rounds. Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux, 8VC, Aleph and Lightspeed led the financing. Anthem targets mass production The Dallas-based defense startup has already put Anthem through more than 200 flights. Testing began with the weapon’s first flight in August 2025 and has included exercises with the US Army in the United States and overseas. Those flights have allowed engineers to test the system across repeated missions. Covenant says the testing has covered the major elements of the weapon’s design. Michael Kaufman, Covenant’s co-founder and CEO, said adversaries can field thousands of hardened targets beyond current strike ranges. Anthem aims to give US forces a way to threaten those targets during extended operations. “If our stockpiles run thin, so does our deterrence,” Kaufman said. Anthem’s range remains undisclosed, though unconfirmed reports place it near 750 miles. Reuters reported a payload capacity exceeding 441 pounds. The production plan is unusually aggressive for a new long-range weapon. Covenant opened a 105,000-square-foot facility in Dallas, Texas, recently. Serial production should begin in the first quarter of 2027. Output will eventually reach roughly 5,000 units annually. Covenant is also building its manufacturing footprint overseas. A 110,000-square-foot facility in Saxony, Germany, supports production through a European supply chain. Another 32,000-square-foot facility operates in northern Israel. Software and supply chain Anthem’s design extends beyond the missile itself. Covenant has developed its own mission-planning and command-and-control software for coordinated launches. The weapon also relies heavily on commercial off-the-shelf components. Strategic agreements cover other critical parts, while allied supply chains provide additional manufacturing capacity. That approach could help Covenant avoid some bottlenecks associated with specialized defense production. It also gives the company a path toward higher output during wartime demand. The manufacturing strategy reflects a broader shift in defense procurement. US officials have increasingly pushed contractors to deliver affordable weapons in larger quantities. Former Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said Anthem follows principles associated with the Pentagon’s Replicator initiative. That effort pushed the Defense Department toward affordable systems that could reach large-scale production. Pentagon contracts expand Covenant has already secured roughly $150 million in orders. Those deals include research, development, qualification work and production contracts. The US Army has placed the company under an Other Transaction Agreement for accelerated testing and qualification. The Navy’s Rapid Capabilities Office also contracted Covenant to develop a maritime version. That project carries a value of about $70 million. It includes cost sharing and modifications intended to simplify future exports to US allies and partners. Covenant says additional contract awards could arrive before the end of 2026. The company now plans to expand its Texas workforce across engineering, manufacturing, and operations as production moves toward full scale. The strategy gives Covenant several paths to scale Anthem beyond its initial US production base. Its overseas facilities could also support allied demand as the weapon moves through qualification and into serial manufacturing. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.