Boeing and Anduril Partner to Develop Midrange Air-Defense Interceptor

The U.S. Army has selected Boeing and Anduril to advance in a competition for a new midrange air-defense interceptor, aimed at protecting military bases from cruise missiles and drones.

The selection launches Phase 2 of the Integrated Fires Protection Capability Increment 2 Second Interceptor program, which will see the companies complete detailed design, development, integration, and demonstration work.

Boeing is providing the seeker technology and compact airframe, while Anduril is supplying the interceptor's solid rocket motor. The companies plan to build the motor at Anduril's 450-acre Mississippi Solid Rocket Motor Complex, which has received $58 million in Defense Production Act funding.

The design emphasizes speed, affordability, and magazine depth, with a compact size intended to allow military units to deploy more interceptors at each defended site. The Modular Open Systems Architecture allows for the replacement of seeker, avionics, or software blocks without redesigning the complete weapon.