Israeli-American Startup Unveils Advanced Cruise Missile in Morocco Military Test
In early August 2026, Covenant Industries, an Israeli-American defense startup, successfully launched its innovative cruise missile, Anthem, during a joint military exercise between the United States and Morocco near Tan-Tan in southern Morocco. This live-fire test marked the operational debut of the new Africa Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Center (AMTEC), established under the Abraham Accords to serve as a permanent testing ground for advanced combat technologies.
The test involved a temporary launch site set up in the Sahara Desert dunes, where US and Moroccan forces, alongside Covenant engineers, monitored the missile's communication systems, launch mechanisms, and environmental data collection in real time. Anthem is designed as a cost-effective, mass-producible alternative to heavier, more expensive cruise missiles like the US Tomahawk, while maintaining long range and precision strike capabilities. Covenant is also developing affordable interceptors against drones and swarms.
Founded in 2024 by American-Israeli investor Michael Kaufman, Covenant has maintained a low public profile despite raising hundreds of millions from major Silicon Valley funds including Founders Fund and Andreessen Horowitz. The Morocco test was enabled by a US Army Secretary initiative granting private tech firms rapid access to US and allied military test ranges, with Covenant being the first to utilize this opportunity. The successful trial is a critical milestone toward planned serial production starting in early 2027.
