Secret Missile Firm Covenant Unveils Long-Range Weapon System

Covenant, a U.S.-based defense company founded by entrepreneur Michael Kaufman, has publicly revealed its long-range weapon system, dubbed Anthem. The company, which also has operations in Israel and Germany, has secured $250 million in funding from investors including Palantir, Anduril, and Founders Fund. Anthem is described as a long-range, heavy-payload aerial munition designed to address the dwindling stockpiles and slow production rates of existing Western long-range missiles, such as the Tomahawk and Storm Shadow.

Covenant states that Anthem's development was prompted by the rapid depletion of precision long-range missiles in recent conflicts, which are being consumed faster than defense industries can replenish them. The system is intended for large-scale production, with the goal of maintaining a readily available supply even during prolonged conflicts. The company estimates Anthem can be produced in the thousands annually at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars per unit.

The Anthem system includes integrated solutions for storage, transport, launch, and reloading, along with software for mission planning and management, and command and control capabilities for coordinating large-scale, cost-effective launches. Covenant emphasizes that most Anthem components are commercially available, with long-term supply agreements secured for critical parts. Production relies on suppliers in multiple countries to ensure continuous output and availability during wartime.

In addition to its funding, Covenant has secured contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, including a $70 million deal with the U.S. Navy for a maritime version of Anthem and export adaptation. The company is expanding its workforce across the U.S., Germany, and Israel. It has conducted approximately 200 test flights of Anthem since 2025, including with the U.S. military. Covenant is inaugurating a new 10,000-square-meter factory in Dallas, Texas, adding to its existing facilities in Germany and Israel.

Michael Kaufman, CEO of Covenant, stated that Anthem is designed to strike targets beyond the range of existing weapon systems and to maintain deterrence through sufficient and replenishable munition stockpiles. Kathleen Hicks, a former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense and current advisor to Covenant, noted that the system's design facilitates production and delivery at the pace required by operational needs, aligning with initiatives to accelerate the Pentagon's acquisition of autonomous systems.