Sequoia-backed Mach Industries, a defense tech company founded by 21-year-old Ethan Thornton, has secured a contract with the U.S. Army and is planning to build its first factory, according to Thornton in an interview with TechCrunch.
The factory, named Forge 1, will be located in Huntington Beach, California, where Mach’s headquarters is situated. Despite the high cost associated with the zip code, Southern California has become a hub for the defense tech industry due to its proximity to SpaceX.
In addition to the contract with the U.S. Army, Mach has also been selected by the Army Applications Laboratory to develop a vertical takeoff precision cruise missile called “Strategic Strike.” This contract was awarded in the third quarter of 2024 and the announcement was made after the successful completion of initial flight tests.
Mach is adopting an innovative approach to its factory design. Instead of centralized facilities, the company plans to build multiple decentralized factories to establish a robust defense industrial base. These factories will handle the entire production process, from raw materials to final assembly. Mach intends to establish additional sites in the U.S. and hopes to expand internationally.
The Huntington factory is already manufacturing Mach’s main products, including a weapon called Glide and a super-light jet-powered vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) known as Viper. Viper is notable for its vertical takeoff capability, eliminating the need for a runway. Mach claims that Viper is up to 300 times cheaper to build compared to traditional UAVs.
Thornton envisions the first factory being capable of producing 1,000 Vipers and 3,000 Glides per month in the future.
Mach Industries has gained attention in the defense tech industry not only because it is backed by Sequoia, but also because Thornton founded the company as a teenager. He dropped out of MIT at the age of 19 to focus on Mach and secured investments from prominent venture capitalists. Mach’s seed round raised $5.7 million in June 2023, led by Sequoia’s Stephanie Zhan and Shaun Maguire. In October 2023, the company raised $79 million in a Series A round led by Geoff Lewis, founder of Bedrock Capital.
Despite his young age, Thornton has positioned Mach as a prominent player in the defense tech sector. The company has attracted top talent, including Peterson Conway, a former Palantir recruiter. Mach now boasts a growing team of employees.
Please note that the description of one of Mach’s products has been updated at the company’s request.
