Mach Industries Raises $100M Series B to Expand U.S. Defense Manufacturing

Mach Industries, a Huntington Beach-based defense technology startup, has closed a $100 million Series B funding round led by Khosla Ventures and Bedrock, with participation from Sequoia Capital, bringing its total funding to approximately $185 million and a valuation of $470 million. The company specializes in unmanned military systems, producing three key UAV platforms—Viper, a jet-powered vertical takeoff and landing drone; Glide, a high-altitude glider; and Stratos, an in-air satellite system. Mach is building a vertically integrated manufacturing base, including its flagship factory Forge Huntington, designed for rapid retooling to accommodate new hardware designs and to enable faster and more scalable production. The new funds will expand Forge Huntington, scale Mach Propulsion—a division focused on producing tactical engines and microturbines—and support deployment of next-generation autonomous defense systems for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied governments. Founded in 2023 by Ethan Thornton, who left MIT to lead the company, Mach has quickly grown from 20 to 140 employees and secured multiple contracts and partnerships, including manufacturing collaborations for hydrogen-powered drones. The company emphasizes operational resilience and rapid iteration to maintain American strategic edge in unmanned warfare through distributed manufacturing closer to demand.