The Pentagon may have found a much cheaper alternative to Patriot missiles - for less than $750,000 a shot

X-Bow received nearly $11 million under a new interceptor development contract The new interceptor system targets a cost below $750,000 per launch Patriot missiles currently cost roughly one-fifth more than this new target The Pentagon has awarded X-Bow Systems almost $11 million to develop a lower-cost interceptor system under a missile defense program.

The project falls under the Missile Defense Agency's Rapid Response Small Launcher Technology program and seeks to create a weapon that could cost below $750,000 per launch.

That figure amounts to roughly one-fifth the cost of a Patriot missile, the current top-tier standard for air defense systems.

X-Bow develops a new interceptor approach The Missile Defense Agency selected X-Bow through its Low-Cost Interceptor program, which focuses on developing affordable systems against advanced aerial threats.

The company will use the funding to continue propulsion work and prepare a prototype for a planned flight demonstration.

X-Bow produces its solid rocket motors and propellant internally, allowing the company to control more parts of its manufacturing process.

The agreement requires the firm to deliver a prototype system by late 2027, although that stage will not represent a fully operational weapon.

The Pentagon has faced pressure because existing interceptor systems remain expensive and difficult to produce quickly.

The war in Iran revealed a major setback as the U.S. is now left with about 250 THAAD rounds and less than 1,000 Patriot interceptors.

Patriot replacement rounds cost around $3.9 million each, while manufacturing takes years and depends on a small number of established suppliers.

“The contract will aim to address the critical need to expand the SRM industrial base, which is currently reliant on a duopoly of two primary manufacturers,” said the US Department of Defense in its contract announcement.

X-Bow said its production methods could help create affordable weapons while increasing manufacturing speed for military requirements.

“America can’t out-produce today’s threats with yesterday’s supplier base,” said Jason Hundley, founder and CEO of X-Bow Systems.

The company is examining ways to reduce costs across interceptor components, including propulsion systems and other expensive sections.