X-Bow Systems, headquartered in New Mexico, and the US Army are jointly investing $13.9 million to produce a new rocket motor for the GMLRS. The project aims to address supply shortages caused by outdated production techniques and ensure a consistent flow of critical munitions.
The initiative will leverage X-Bow’s proprietary solid-propellant technology to provide an additional production line for the Pentagon. Funding is being provided through a cost-sharing arrangement under the DoD’s Office of Strategic Capital, with technical expertise contributed by Kord Technologies, a subsidiary of KBR. The effort will end with a static fire test to validate the motor’s performance and establish X-Bow as a trusted supplier.
Operating within the Advanced Manufacturing Pathfinder program, the project focuses on integrating new industrial partners, advancing modern production techniques, and addressing obsolescence issues in defense manufacturing. Pentagon offices overseeing research, engineering, and missile acquisition are backing the initiative.
X-Bow’s collaboration with the Army is the latest in a series of milestones. The company tested its “Bolt” rocket in October 2024, advanced its hypersonic booster design, and secured Navy contracts for Standard Missile rocket motors. It also expanded its partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory through its Rapid Energetics and Advanced Rocket Manufacturing program, strengthening its role in next-generation propulsion.
