Add a new, fast-growing US source of solid rocket motors, the part that limits how many missiles the US can build, by making propellant with automated machines in a new Texas plant.
PilotStage 3 of 5
Certified for full production in May 2026; a Navy-funded line for 500 motors a year is being tooled.
Updated 4d ago·Checked 11 Oct·1 update this week
Milestones
Next · Navy booster development phase (12 months)
Series B closes at over $105MMay 2025Complete.
$13.9M Army GMLRS motor prototype awardAug 2025Complete.
Production AMSP system installed at LulingNov 2025Complete.
Certified for full production (AFRL RE-ARM)27 May 2026Complete.
First major production contract done: 2,100+ motors2026Complete.
Navy booster award, up to $69.7M7 Oct 2026Complete.
Navy booster development phase (12 months)Target 2027Current milestone.
Propellant output reaches 3M lb a yearTarget 2027Not yet reached.
Navy weapon initial capabilityTarget 2031Not yet reached.
2027Navy booster development phase (12 months) (next)
2027Propellant output reaches 3M lb a year
2031Navy weapon initial capability
Current obstacles
Ramping from 1M to 3M lb a yearCertification is done; the open question is whether output triples on the 12–24 month plan set in Nov 2025.
Long qualification before volumeThe Navy booster needs a 12-month development phase and a qualification option before full-rate orders.
Physics limits
Propellant is fuel and oxidiser in one solidSolid propellant can ignite while it is mixed and cast, so plants need remote operation, spread-out buildings and slow safety steps; capacity grows with buildings and land, not just faster machines.
A flawless grain, every timeA crack or void in the propellant suddenly adds burning surface, pressure spikes and the case can burst, so every motor must be inspected and every new design qualified before it flies.
How it works
4 parts
Machine-made grain
Additive propellant
The patented AMSP process builds the solid propellant grain, the part that burns, by machine instead of large hand-run batches.
Two kinds of plant
Fixed campus and container line
A large fixed plant in Luling and a Rocket Factory in a Box in container modules; both were certified for production in May 2026.
Counted in pounds
Capacity is propellant mass
3M lb a year would fill about 3,000–3,800 Standard Missile motors or 30,000–50,000 small tactical motors (company figures).
Modular motors
One architecture, many missiles
Common motor building blocks are adapted to each missile, so one line can serve several programs.
Spec sheet
Spec
Luling solid rocket motor plant
Initial propellant output
1M lb a yearR (reported)
Target propellant output
3M lb a yearR (reported)
3M lb equals (company)
3,000–3,800 Standard Missile motors/yrR (reported)
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.
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.
