ABL Space, a once-promising player in the commercial launch industry, is rebranding itself as Long Wall, focusing instead on defense applications such as missile defense and hypersonic flight testing. The company, founded in 2017, initially sought to disrupt the small satellite launch market with its RS1 rocket.
However, faced with stiff competition from established players like SpaceX and Rocket Lab, as well as financial challenges, ABL decided to pivot. In a recent blog post, founder Dan Piemont announced that the company would shift its focus towards developing containerized missile defense systems and target rockets for US military applications.
According to Piemont, the Defense Department has expressed a need for cost-effective solutions in hypersonic flight testing and missile defense. Long Wall plans to offer deployable missile defense and hypersonic test vehicles, repurposing its RS1 rocket as a target vehicle for military testing. This will allow for simulated incoming threats in live-fire exercises or testing of advanced missile interceptors.
The rebranding marks a broader trend among space startups shifting towards defense work due to challenges in the commercial market. The transition is also driven by lucrative opportunities arising from rising geopolitical tensions and increased Pentagon interest in hypersonic and missile defense capabilities.
Source: https://spacenews.com/abl-space-renamed-long-wall-as-it-shifts-focus-to-defense-market