Covenant Unveils $250,000 Anthem Missile System After Stealth Development
Defense company Covenant, founded by entrepreneur Michael Kaufman, has emerged from stealth mode to reveal its new long-range Anthem missile system. The company, which operates in the United States, Israel, and Germany, has already secured agreements with the U.S. military, according to Globes. Industry analysts suggest Anthem could help replenish Western stockpiles of long-range missiles, which have been depleted by conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, impacting systems like the American Tomahawk and Franco-British Storm Shadow. Covenant states that modern conflicts consume precision missiles faster than the defense industry can produce them, and Anthem is designed for mass production, with expectations of thousands of units annually. The estimated cost per missile is several hundred thousand dollars.
The Anthem system is engineered for widespread deployment and includes integrated solutions for storage, transportation, launch, and reloading. It also features software for mission planning and command systems for large-scale launches. Most components are sourced from the commercial market, while Covenant has established long-term supply agreements for critical parts in multiple countries to ensure continuous production, even during wartime. The company has raised over $250 million across three funding rounds from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux, 8VC, Aleph, and Lightspeed.
Since 2025, Anthem has undergone approximately 200 test flights, some with Pentagon participation. Covenant is now opening a 10,000-square-meter factory in Dallas, complementing a similarly sized facility in Saxony, Germany, and a 3,000-square-meter R&D and production center in Israel. The Dallas plant aims to produce up to 5,000 Anthem missiles per year. The company's current order and contract portfolio stands at $150 million, with further orders anticipated by year-end. Covenant has also signed an agreement with the U.S. Army to expedite testing and certification.
A $70 million contract with the U.S. Navy involves developing a maritime version of Anthem and adapting the system for international export. Company head Michael Kaufman highlighted that numerous protected targets are currently beyond the reach of existing systems, emphasizing that dwindling missile stockpiles weaken defense capabilities. Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, now an advisor to Covenant, stated that an approach similar to the Replicator program is needed for rapid production of affordable, long-range weapons with significant payloads. Amidst the cruise missile deficit, the Pentagon has also initiated the GBAM and FAMM programs, though Covenant has not yet indicated its participation.
