US Army Picks Lockheed Martin to Develop Future Interceptor Under $1.08 Billion Agreement
Washington — The U.S. Army announced on October 29 in Huntsville, Alabama, that it has selected Lockheed Martin to develop the Future Interceptor, the service's next-generation air and missile defense interceptor, under an Other Transaction Agreement. The project's total estimated value is $1.08 billion, comprising $660.4 million in Army funding and a $423 million cost share from Lockheed Martin.
Under the agreement, the Army will work with Lockheed Martin to advance prototype development and conduct testing and evaluation against established operational requirements. Any later development or production decision will depend on prototype performance, operational requirements and available resources. Brent Ingraham, the Army's senior acquisition official, said the award was an important step in the service's push to deliver new integrated air and missile defense systems to the force.
Lockheed Martin's entry for the program is the PAC-3 Edge, unveiled on October 9. Built on the combat-proven PAC-3 MSE interceptor used in Patriot batteries, it adds a new seeker developed by the company's Strigo Product Center, a multi-pulse solid rocket motor designed by Northrop Grumman and upgraded control systems, for greater range, altitude, velocity and maneuverability. It is designed to integrate with the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), the M903 launcher, containerized launchers and HIMARS Flex. Lockheed Martin says it plans to begin testing in 2027 and to be ready for deployment by 2031; those dates are the company's targets, and the Army has not published a program schedule.
The Future Interceptor is intended to counter advanced air and missile threats, including hypersonic weapons. According to Aviation Week, Lockheed Martin beat Anduril for the award.
Source: U.S. Army
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：2022年美菲「肩并肩」演习期间，一架美军CH-47直升机在菲律宾Fort Magsaysay装载PAC-3 MSE拦截弹发射筒（资料图）。美国陆军Maj. Trevor Wild摄，公共领域，经DVIDS。 / Photo: A U.S. Army CH-47 loads PAC-3 MSE canisters at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, during Exercise Balikatan 2022 (file photo). U.S. Army photo by Maj. Trevor Wild, public domain, via DVIDS.
