The Russian war in Ukraine is driving development in the American military-industrial complex; cheap cruise missiles are on the horizon.

American startup Ares Industries is creating a new anti-ship cruise missile class that is “10 times smaller and with a 10 times cheaper form factor.” Ares Industries’ missiles will be compatible with existing launch platforms, deliver smaller payloads at high subsonic speeds and “destroy ships hundreds of miles away.” Over time, the company wants to expand its product to versions with increased flight range and payloads. The company claims that a potential war with China in the Taiwan Strait will not be similar to what has happened in Ukraine or the Middle East. The most useful weapon in such a conflict would be long-range anti-ship weapons or cruise missiles. Therefore, the US is not properly prepared, as the Russian war against Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East have shown that the available weapons are “too big and too expensive” for modern wars. The startup has already created and tested several prototypes and will send rocket systems to the first customers as early as mid-2025.