RTX and Lockheed Martin are entering flight tests this year in a head-to-head competition to develop a replacement for the U.S. Army's aging Stinger missile, addressing urgent capability gaps in short-range air defense against evolving threats.
The Army's next-generation interceptor aims to counter increasingly sophisticated aerial threats with enhanced speed, electronic warfare resilience, and improved effectiveness against challenging targets like unmanned aerial systems. This program has gained urgency as Stinger missiles from U.S. stockpiles continue supporting Ukraine's defense against Russian forces.
RTX announced Tuesday it has completed 10 subsystem demonstrations of its Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) offering. These tests validated critical performance improvements including:
Extended seeker range exceeding current Stinger capabilities
Enhanced flight rocket motor performance for greater intercept range
Improved target detection and identification in low-visibility environments
"Precise and repeatable lethality" against diverse threats during warhead testing
"These successful subsystem demonstrations are a crucial step in meeting the U.S. Army's range and performance requirements for this transformational short-range air defense capability," said Tom Laliberty, RTX's president of land & air defense systems.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin reports it has already conducted two soldier touchpoints with positive warfighter feedback. "Our solution brings performance improvements to mounted and dismounted MSHORAD operations and provides dismounted soldiers and marines a capability that rivals the mounted platform," stated Randy Crites, vice president of advanced programs for Lockheed's missiles and fire control business.
The Army's competitive approach includes a five-year development cycle with multiple decision points. According to Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, who oversees Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, the first two years focus on initial development and small-quantity missile production, culminating in a "fly-off" competition. If both systems perform well, both vendors will advance to the second phase for further refinement before a final selection for production.
This program represents a critical modernization priority as the Army no longer produces new Stinger missiles, instead refurbishing existing inventory. With Stingers forming the backbone of the service's interim Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) system and man-portable air defense capabilities, this next-generation solution will enhance frontline defenses against the growing spectrum of aerial threats confronting U.S. and allied forces.
The upcoming flight demonstrations later this year will provide crucial validation of each competitor's technology and approach, marking a significant milestone in delivering enhanced air defense capabilities to American warfighters.
