Lockheed Martin has secured a critical contract from the U.S. Army to develop a new interceptor under the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 program. This effort marks a significant step in strengthening the Army’s layered air and missile defense architecture against evolving aerial threats such as cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and rockets.
IFPC Increment 2: Filling the Mid-Tier Air Defense Gap
The IFPC program is designed to address a key vulnerability in the U.S. Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) construct—namely, the gap between short-range systems like M-SHORAD/Stinger and high-end systems such as Patriot or THAAD. The IFPC Increment 2 aims to provide a mobile, ground-based solution capable of defeating subsonic cruise missiles, Group 3 UAS (weighing between 25–600 kg), and rocket/artillery/mortar (RAM) threats.
The system architecture comprises three main components:
- Launcher: Dynetics’ Enduring Shield launcher was selected in August 2021 after a competitive shoot-off at White Sands Missile Range.
- Interceptor(s): The first approved interceptor is Raytheon’s AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder adapted for ground launch; Lockheed Martin now develops the second interceptor.
- Battle Management: The system is integrated via Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), enabling sensor-fused targeting across multiple platforms.
This layered approach allows commanders greater flexibility in engaging diverse threats with cost-effective interceptors tailored to specific targets.
Lockheed Martin’s Role: A Second Interceptor with Advanced Capabilities
The newly awarded contract tasks Lockheed Martin with developing an alternative or complementary interceptor for use within the IFPC framework. While specific details regarding design or configuration remain classified or undeclared due to operational security concerns, several indicators suggest that this second interceptor will likely focus on enhanced kinematics and multi-mode seeker capabilities.
Potential characteristics may include:
- Vertical launch capability, compatible with Enduring Shield’s canisterized launcher cells.
- Active radar homing or dual-mode seekers, improving target discrimination against low-RCS drones or terrain-hugging cruise missiles.
- High agility and maneuverability, suitable for intercepting fast-moving targets at short-to-medium ranges (~10–20 km).
This development aligns with Lockheed Martin’s broader portfolio of missile technologies including PAC-3 MSE, Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK), and Extended Area Protection System (EAPS) prototypes—some of which may form technological baselines for this new effort.
AIM-9X as First Interceptor: Strengths and Limitations
The AIM-9X Block II was selected as the initial interceptor due to its proven off-the-shelf reliability and infrared homing capability. Adapted from its air-to-air role into a surface-launched configuration via Enduring Shield launchers, it provides rapid fieldability while minimizing integration risk.
However, limitations exist:
- Sensitivity to countermeasures: IR seekers can be spoofed by flares or decoys under certain conditions.
- Kinematic constraints: While highly maneuverable in air combat roles, its range (~10–15 km surface-launched) may be insufficient against some standoff weapons or fast cruise missiles flying nap-of-the-earth profiles.
This underscores why a second interceptor—likely optimized for radar-guided engagements—is essential to round out IFPC’s threat envelope coverage while preserving cost-effectiveness per shot compared to Patriot-class munitions (~$4M+ per round).
Diversifying Interceptors Enhances Layered Defense Strategy
The dual-interceptor strategy reflects lessons learned from recent conflicts where adversaries employ mixed salvos of drones, loitering munitions, rockets, and cruise missiles simultaneously. By fielding two interceptors with complementary guidance modes (IR + RF), engagement success rates improve while reducing susceptibility to saturation attacks or electronic warfare countermeasures.
This approach also gives commanders tactical flexibility:
- Select IR-guided AIM-9X against thermally visible drones/UAS swarms;
- Select radar-guided Lockheed-developed missile against low-RCS cruise threats;
The modularity of IBCS ensures that both interceptors can be cued by any networked sensor node—be it Sentinel A4 radar, G/ATOR Marine radars under joint operations, or even airborne sensors like E-3 AWACS—further increasing situational awareness across domains.
Towards Fielding: Timelines and Testing Path Ahead
The exact value of Lockheed’s contract has not been disclosed publicly but is expected to cover design maturation through prototype testing phases over FY2024–2026. Initial flight tests are likely scheduled at White Sands Missile Range under Program Executive Office Missiles & Space oversight before entering Limited User Testing (LUT).
If successful during evaluation cycles—including live-fire trials against representative targets—the new interceptor could enter Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) by late FY2027 alongside AIM-9X-equipped Enduring Shield batteries already undergoing integration trials at Fort Sill with IBCS nodes.
Strategic Implications Amid Global Drone-Cruise Threat Proliferation
The urgency behind IFPC development is driven by real-world operational gaps exposed in Ukraine and Middle Eastern theaters where low-cost drones have inflicted disproportionate damage on static infrastructure using saturation tactics. The proliferation of Iranian Shahed-type loitering munitions and Russian Kalibr-class cruise missiles underscores the need for affordable mid-tier defenses beyond Patriot batteries constrained by cost-per-shot ratios and limited magazine depth.
NATO allies are closely watching IFPC progress as they seek similar solutions under programs like Germany’s LVS NNbS or France’s MICA VL-based SHORAD upgrades. Should Lockheed’s second interceptor prove successful in trials—and scalable in production—it may become an export candidate under Foreign Military Sales aligned with IBCS-compatible architectures abroad.
A Competitive Landscape Still Evolving
This award does not preclude future competition; other firms such as Rafael/RAFAEL USA have offered Iron Dome/Tamir variants previously evaluated during earlier phases of IFPC development but not downselected due to integration complexity concerns within IBCS frameworks at that time. However, evolving threat dynamics may reopen opportunities for additional interceptors if capability gaps persist post-fielding assessments around ~2028–2030 timelines.
