US Army Seeks Second Interceptor for Enduring Shield System

The US Army is on the hunt for a second interceptor to pair with its new Enduring Shield system, which can already fire AIM-9X Sidewinders. The service wants a mid-tier anti-air missile that can expand its capabilities against incoming cruise missiles and other aerial threats.

A team made up of Boeing and Anduril has been selected to move ahead to the next phase of the competition with their offering, while Lockheed Martin has also advanced to phase 2. The Army confirmed that Rafael Systems Global Sustainment was not down-selected for the project.

The new interceptor will be designed to provide short-to-medium range defense against various aerial threats, including drones. Boeing's proposed design is a clean-sheet approach using a solid-fuel rocket motor provided by Anduril, while Lockheed Martin's offering is a reworked concept based on its previous Cuda missile.

The Army has emphasized the need for a mid-range air defense capability to counter threats such as long-range drones and cruise missiles. The service plans to pair the new interceptor with its existing Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, which are currently overstretched due to their inability to engage lower-tier threats efficiently.