X-Bow Systems to Build Boosters for CHAOS Missile

The company will supply solid rocket motor boosters for the Navy's new cruise missile development program.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Semiconductors

X-Bow Systems to Build Boosters for CHAOS Missile

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X-Bow Systems has been selected to develop and produce solid rocket boosters for the CoAspire CHAOS cruise missile program. This initiative aims to provide a low-cost weapon system capable of hitting maritime and land targets for the U.S. Navy and allied nations.

Why it matters

The program seeks to bolster international defense capabilities by offering a cost-effective strike option. The missile is designed to reach targets at distances of up to 1,000 nautical miles.

X-Bow uses additive manufacturing to produce solid propellant rocket motors that accelerate missiles until jet engines engage. Their production facility in Luling, Texas, holds an annual capacity for 500 motors.

The players

X-Bow Systems

A defense technology company headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that specializes in additive manufacturing for solid rocket motors.

CoAspire

A Virginia-based defense firm that acts as the prime contractor for the CHAOS cruise missile program.

U.S. Navy

The military branch responsible for awarding the prototype agreements and managing the cruise missile procurement.

Zone 5 Technologies

A defense company that received a separate $65 million contract in September 2026 to work on a maritime strike version of the missile.

The details

The CHAOS missile program utilizes a solid rocket motor to fire and accelerate the weapon before transitioning to its jet engine. X-Bow Systems secured this role following a series of significant Navy contract awards involving multiple defense industry partners.

Late 2025: X-Bow opened its production facility in Luling, Texas.
July 17, 2026: The U.S. Navy awarded CoAspire a $70 million contract for the CHAOS program.
September 2026: Zone 5 Technologies received a $65 million contract for a maritime strike missile version.
October 7, 2026: X-Bow received a $69.7 million prototype agreement for separate booster development.
October 27, 2026: X-Bow was announced as the booster contractor for the CHAOS program.

The Tech Race

The reliance on the Foreign Military Sales program reflects a broader trend of leveraging domestic defense contracts to support allied interoperability. This initiative underscores a shift toward modular, cost-effective weaponry that can be integrated across global security alliances.

The development of these solid rocket motors highlights the scaling of additive manufacturing in the defense sector, potentially reducing long-term production costs. This could influence future procurement strategies for military equipment, affecting the financial landscape for domestic defense contractors.

The takeaway

The use of additive manufacturing in rocket production represents a push toward more agile and affordable defense supply chains. By focusing on modular boosters, contractors are standardizing components to simplify maintenance and logistics for both domestic and international forces.