Unclassified // open-source data on US defense tech // 14 NOV 2026
Hypersonics & Propulsion
11 companies

Hypersonic and Propulsion Companies in the United States

Hypersonic vehicles, test beds, rocket engines and solid rocket motors. For years most US solid rocket motors came from two suppliers, and the race with China and Russia on hypersonic weapons has made room for new engine makers and for faster, cheaper flight testing. Together they have disclosed $2.5B in funding, led by Castelion (~$1.5B). The newest round on record is Firehawk's Series D (Oct 2026).

X-51A WaveRider hypersonic test vehicle under a B-52 wing at Edwards Air Force Base. Photo: U.S. Air Force/Chad Bellay, Public domain (U.S. government work).

Latest rounds

DateCompanyRoundAmountHQSector
Oct 2026Firehawk Series D$150MDallas, TXHypersonics & Propulsion
Aug 2026Castelion Series C$1BTorrance, CAHypersonics & Propulsion
Jul 2026Venus Aerospace Series B$91MHouston, TXHypersonics & Propulsion
Jun 2026Volund Manufacturing Seed$12MHuntington Beach, CAHypersonics & Propulsion
Apr 2026Hermeus Series C$350MEl Segundo, CAHypersonics & Propulsion
Feb 2026Agile Space Industries Series A$17MDurango, COHypersonics & Propulsion
Jan 2026Stratolaunch Private equity round-Mojave, CAHypersonics & Propulsion
Nov 2025Ursa Major Series E$100MBerthoud, COHypersonics & Propulsion
May 2025X-Bow Systems Series B$105MHouston, TXHypersonics & Propulsion

All companies

Full directory

Firehawk

Dallas, Texas

Produces 3D-printed solid rocket propellant, rocket motors and artillery motors, with production in Lawton, Oklahoma and missile integration in Mississippi.

Hypersonics & PropulsionSeries D / Oct 2026

Castelion

Torrance, California

Develops low-cost, mass-producible hypersonic strike weapons, led by the Blackbeard missile, with in-house solid rocket motor production in New Mexico.

Hypersonics & PropulsionSeries C / Aug 2026

Venus Aerospace

Houston, Texas

Develops rotating detonation rocket engines and ramjet propulsion for hypersonic aircraft and long-range defense missiles.

Hypersonics & PropulsionSeries B / Jul 2026

Volund Manufacturing

Huntington Beach, California

Makes low-cost turbojet engines, starting with a 100-pound-thrust class engine, for attritable cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft.

Hypersonics & PropulsionSeed / Jun 2026

Hermeus

El Segundo, California

Develops uncrewed high-Mach aircraft and turbine-based combined cycle propulsion, flying the Quarterhorse series toward supersonic and Mach 3 flight for defense customers.

Hypersonics & PropulsionSeries C / Apr 2026

Agile Space Industries

Durango, Colorado

Designs, 3D prints and tests in-space propulsion systems and chemical rocket engines for spacecraft and defense missions.

Hypersonics & PropulsionSeries A / Feb 2026

Stratolaunch

Mojave, California

Operates the Roc carrier aircraft and the reusable, autonomous Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle for Missile Defense Agency and DoD flight testing.

Hypersonics & PropulsionPrivate equity round / Jan 2026

Ursa Major

Berthoud, Colorado

Designs and manufactures solid rocket motors, hypersonic engines and space propulsion using additive manufacturing for tactical missiles and launch.

Hypersonics & PropulsionSeries E / Nov 2025

X-Bow Systems

Houston, Texas

Manufactures solid rocket motors and energetics for tactical missiles, hypersonic test vehicles and launch, with a production campus in Luling, Texas.

Hypersonics & PropulsionSeries B / May 2025

Long Wall

Long Beach, California

Formerly ABL Space Systems, now builds missile defense systems and hypersonic flight test vehicles after pivoting from small launch in 2025.

Hypersonics & PropulsionRound n/d

Beehive Industries

Centennial, Colorado

Designs and 3D prints small expendable turbojet engines, the Frenzy family, for affordable cruise missiles, loitering munitions and drones.

Hypersonics & PropulsionRound n/d

Questions

Who are the biggest hypersonic and propulsion companies in the US?

By disclosed funding among the companies we track: Castelion, Firehawk, Hermeus and Long Wall, as of November 14, 2026.

How many hypersonic and propulsion companies are in the US?

Our directory lists 11 privately held US hypersonics & propulsion startups as of November 14, 2026. Large primes and public companies are not included.