
Mach Industries in January successfully flight-tested its Viper vertical takeoff cruise missile under an Army contract for Strategic Strike, showcasing the startup’s speed in developing the man-portable long-range weapon that is designed for use by maneuvering forces against in GPS and communications-denied environments. The jet-powered Viper currently has a 290-kilometer range but as the cruise missile is refined its range will far exceed that threshold, Ethan Thornton, the 21-year-old CEO and founder of California-based Mach Industries, told Defense Daily last…