Until recently, venture capitalists kept their distance from defense startups. Now, Benchmark is leading a $25 million seed round into Furientis, a company determined to mass-produce low-cost interceptor missiles.

The startup's co-founders, with backgrounds in aerospace and defense engineering, have already secured a Pentagon contract. Their approach is radically different from traditional defense primes, focusing on rapid assembly with readily available components.

Furientis aims to manufacture 1,000 systems a year, addressing the U.S. Navy's severe shortage of exquisite missiles. While other defense giants struggle with long design cycles, Furientis is testing its missiles bi-weekly in the field.

The startup's efficiency is remarkable. With just a pre-seed round of $5 million, Furientis managed to manufacture prototypes and secure successful launches. This speed could revolutionize defense procurement, but also raise questions about innovation and cost.

Furientis is not alone in this race. Larger companies and traditional primes are also racing to build mass-produced interceptors. The future of defense manufacturing may well be defined by startups like Furientis.