ALBUQUERQUE, NM, Apr. 7, 2026 — X-Bow Systems Inc (X-Bow), the leading non-traditional producer of advanced manufactured solid rocket motors (SRMs), sub-orbital launch solutions and defense technologies, today announced a $12.2 million contract with AEVEX to produce rocket-assisted take-off (RATO) kits for AEVEX’s Disruptor drone. X-Bow will deliver hundreds of production kits and thousands of SRMs and components between March and August 2026, demonstrating its commitment to building fast, fielding faster, and delivering now to meet urgent defense needs.
X-Bow’s RATO2 motor launching an AEVEX Disruptor drone.
X-Bow’s RATO² (Rapidly Assembled Tactical Option for Rocket-Assisted Takeoff ™) system allows drones to take off from unprepared surfaces and confined spaces, significantly expanding operational flexibility in modern conflict zones.
Jason Hundley, Founder and CEO of X-Bow, stated, “This contract validates our ability to rapidly scale production and meet urgent defense needs. Our technology is critical for enhancing the capabilities of modern unmanned aircraft.”
The global military drone market is projected to grow significantly, with increasing demand for systems capable of operating in diverse environments. X-Bow’s RATO² technology addresses this need by enabling drones to operate from a wider range of locations and potentially extending their payload capacity and range.
This latest contract caps a series of recent awards for X-Bow, totaling $212 million in the past six months. Unlike traditional defense contractors, X-Bow’s agile approach and proprietary manufacturing processes reduce time-to-market for critical defense technologies from years to months.
X-Bow’s RATO² production kits, which include solid rocket motors and launch cradles, incorporate proprietary technologies such as advanced propellant formulations and innovative manufacturing processes, positioning the company as a leader in next-generation solid rocket motor technology.
Looking ahead, X-Bow plans to expand its product portfolio to address emerging needs in hypersonic propulsion, low-cost interceptors, next-generation space-based interceptors, and evolved sub-orbital space launch systems.
About X-Bow Systems
Since 2016, X-Bow Systems has rapidly evolved into the non-traditional leader in advanced solid rocket motor manufacturing and sub-orbital launch services, spearheading American reindustrialization in the new defense industrial base. Guided by its mission to “build fast, field faster, deliver now,” X-Bow is addressing critical munitions shortages and gaps in defense and space sectors through proprietary energetics technology, vertical integration from propellant development to full rocket assembly, and end-to-end launch capabilities. Backed by prominent aerospace and venture capital investors—including Crosslink Capital, Razor’s Edge Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures, Boeing, Arkenstone Capital, The Capital Factory, Upsher Management Company, Event Horizon Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures—X-Bow is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a dedicated R&D facility in Socorro, NM. The company has additional presence in Texas, Mississippi, California, Alabama, Colorado, Utah, Maryland, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.XBowSystems.com.
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