The U.S. Army selected Lockheed Martin and a Boeing-Anduril team to advance to the second phase of the IFPC Increment 2 interceptor program.
The U.S. Army has selected Lockheed Martin and a team composed of Boeing and Anduril to move into the demonstration phase of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 interceptor prototype program. This selection marks the second phase of a competition to develop a middle-tier surface-to-air missile designed to fill the capability gap between short-range and long-range air defenses. The new interceptor is intended to protect bases from cruise missiles, drones, and other aerial threats while maintaining a compact form factor to allow for more interceptors in a magazine. Lockheed Martin's design leverages existing technologies to create a new interceptor, while the Boeing-Anduril team's offering features a solid rocket motor provided by Anduril and a Modular Open Systems Architecture. The Army's search for this second interceptor began in 2023 to support the Enduring Shield system, which currently uses AIM-9X Sidewinders. The selection process excluded Rafael Systems Global Sustainment, a U.S. subsidiary of the Israeli defense contractor Rafael. The administration announced that the Army will provide additional shoot-off opportunities in late fiscal year 2027 and 2028 for companies that require more time to develop their low-cost interceptor solutions.
Sources
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Army selects Lockheed, Boeing-Anduril team for next phase in IFPC Inc 2 competition
Breaking Defense
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Army Plans To Give Industry ‘Multiple Bites’ At Low-Cost Interceptor Effort, Official Says
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