# X-Bow Systems

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/x-bow-systems
X-Bow Systems makes solid rocket motors for missiles and test rockets. Its patented process builds the propellant by machine (additive manufacturing), and its Texas plant is meant to add a new US source of motors, the part that limits missile output.

## In brief

- Luling, Texas plant certified for full production in May 2026 under the Air Force RE-ARM program.
- Navy deal (Oct 2026, up to $69.7M) funds tooling for a line of up to 500 motors a year at Luling.
- Series B closed at over $105M in May 2025; Lockheed Martin led the strategic part.

## Facts

- Founded: 2016
- Headquarters: US
- Status: private
- Raised: $105M
- Website: https://xbowsystems.com
- Frontiers: [Manufacturing](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing.md) (Munitions & drone production), [Spaceflight](https://technooptimist.io/spaceflight.md)

## Programs

- [Luling solid rocket motor plant](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing/luling-srm-plant.md) (Manufacturing): Pilot; next: Navy booster development phase (12 months) (2027). Certified for full production in May 2026; a Navy-funded line for 500 motors a year is being tooled.

## Technical approach

- **AMSP: Propellant made by machine**: Its patented Advanced Manufacturing of Solid Propellant process, refined over 12+ iterations, builds grains for both tactical and strategic motors.
- **Rocket Factory in a Box: A propellant line in containers**: A portable production line built into shipping-container-style modules, certified for production alongside the fixed Luling plant in 2026.
- **Modular motors: Shared building blocks**: A Modular Motor Architecture adapts common motor designs to different missiles; the Navy booster line is planned on it.

## Open problems

- **Tripling propellant output** (active research): The plan set in Nov 2025: start at 1M lb of propellant a year and reach 3M lb within 12–24 months.
- **Qualifying big missile boosters** (active research): New boosters pass a development phase and a separate qualification phase; the Navy weapon it powers fields only in early FY2031.

## Upcoming

- **2027**: Navy booster development phase ends; qualification option decision (Luling solid rocket motor plant)
- **2027**: Luling propellant output target of 3M lb a year (Luling solid rocket motor plant)

## Latest updates

- **7 Oct 2026**: Navy awards X-Bow up to $69.7M for a missile booster and a 500-motor-a-year line. X-Bow will develop and qualify a solid rocket booster for an unnamed next-generation Navy weapon meant to replace single-purpose interceptors. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/navy-awards-x-bow-up-to-69-7m-for-a-missile-booster-and-a-500-motor-a-d18b17d5.md) · [original source](https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-navy-modular-rocket-booster-x-bow))
- **27 May 2026**: X-Bow's Texas plant certified for full production under the Air Force RE-ARM program. X-Bow received certification for full production at its Texas facility through the Air Force Research Laboratory's RE-ARM program. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/x-bow-s-texas-plant-certified-for-full-production-under-the-air-force-a96da9c8.md) · [original source](https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-x-bow-missile-motor-maker-production))
- **Nov 2025**: X-Bow installs its production propellant system at Luling, Texas, aiming for 1M lb a year. X-Bow finished installing its production AMSP system at Luling and began inert trials before making live propellant for existing contracts. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/x-bow-installs-its-production-propellant-system-at-luling-texas-aiming-bac7bb96.md) · [original source](https://www.d2pmagazine.com/?p=25273))
- **19 Aug 2025**: US Army and X-Bow announce $13.9M joint investment in a new GMLRS rocket motor. The Army and X-Bow will split the cost of designing, prototyping and testing a solid rocket motor for the standard-range GMLRS guided rocket, made with X-Bow's machine-made propellant. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/us-army-and-x-bow-announce-13-9m-joint-investment-in-a-new-gmlrs-rocket-c4578d08.md) · [original source](https://www.army-technology.com/news/us-army-x-bow-gmlrs-rocket/))
- **13 May 2025**: X-Bow Systems closes Series B at over $105M, with Lockheed Martin leading the strategic part. X-Bow Systems closed its Series B at over $105 million. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/x-bow-systems-closes-series-b-at-over-105m-with-lockheed-martin-leading-d161b896.md) · [original source](https://pulse2.com/x-bow-systems-over-105-million-series-b-raised-for-defense-technologies))

## Funding

| Date | Round | Amount | Post-money | Leads |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| May 2025 | Series B (final close) | $105M |   | Razor's Edge Ventures, Lockheed Martin |

## Partners, customers and investors

- US Navy (customer): Up to $69.7M (Oct 2026) to develop and qualify a booster for a next-generation Navy weapon.
- US Army (partner): $13.9M cost-shared GMLRS rocket motor prototype with the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital (Aug 2025).
- Lockheed Martin (investor): Led the strategic part of the Series B; agreement to bring X-Bow in as an independent motor supplier.
- Kord Technologies (KBR) (partner): Systems engineering on the GMLRS motor prototype.

## People

- Jason Hundley, Founder and CEO

---

The Techno Optimist tracks every frontier of technology, program by program: https://technooptimist.io/ (a Markdown version of any page: add .md to its URL; site map for agents: https://technooptimist.io/llms.txt).
Data API (JSON, realtime stream): https://technooptimist.io/developers. People read 5 pages free, then Reader $10/month; these Markdown pages are open to agents.