US Army picks Boeing and Anduril for its next-gen cruise missile defense

The U.S. Army has selected Boeing and Anduril to enter the next phase of a competition for a new midrange air-defense interceptor, the companies announced on September 9, 2026. The weapon is being developed to defend fixed and forward operating bases against cruise missiles, militarized drones, and other aerial threats. The selection moves the program into Phase 2 of the Integrated Fires Protection Capability Increment 2 Second Interceptor effort. Boeing and Anduril will now carry out detailed design, development, integration, and demonstration work before facing a competitive test against Army requirements. A new layer for base protection The proposed interceptor is designed to fill a gap in the Army’s air-defense network. It would provide a midrange option between short-range systems used for point defense and longer-range weapons intended for protecting high-value targets. Boeing is responsible for the seeker technology and compact airframe, while Anduril is developing the interceptor’s solid rocket motor. The weapon’s compact design is intended to allow military units to deploy more interceptors at each defended location. The companies are also emphasizing affordability and production capacity. A larger number of available interceptors could help units respond to attacks involving large numbers of lower-cost aerial threats. Modular design could speed upgrades The interceptor will use a Modular Open Systems Architecture. This design lets crews replace or upgrade key components such as the seeker, avionics, and software without redesigning the entire weapon. The approach could make it easier for the Army to adapt the system as aerial threats evolve. It is also intended to reduce the time and cost of introducing new capabilities. “Our scalable production approach is designed to provide a reliable, affordable layer of defense against a range of aerial threats to protect the warfighter with practical, dependable capability when it matters most,” said Bob Ciesla, vice president of Boeing Precision Engagement Systems. Boeing said its manufacturing approach is intended to support scaled production as the program develops. Anduril expands rocket motor production Anduril plans to manufacture the interceptor’s solid rocket motor at its 450-acre Mississippi Solid Rocket Motor Complex. The company has invested more than $100 million of its own money in the facility. The site has also received $58 million through Defense Production Act funding. Anduril said the combined investment will support several propulsion programs while increasing production capacity. The facility features a bladeless high-speed mixer that Anduril describes as the only one of its kind worldwide. Its manufacturing line can run multiple stages in parallel and produce different motor configurations. The company said the U.S. solid rocket motor industry has become concentrated among two suppliers after decades of consolidation. Its Mississippi facility is intended to add capacity and improve supply-chain resilience. Partnership moves into full development Boeing and Anduril began exploring technologies for the Army program in 2024 and announced their partnership in December. Their selection now moves the concept into detailed system development and competitive demonstration. The effort comes as the U.S. military faces growing demand for interceptors that can counter large numbers of relatively inexpensive cruise missiles and drones. Anduril said China, Russia, and Iran have spent the past decade developing mass-producible aerial threats designed to put pressure on U.S. interceptor inventories. “We welcome the opportunity to continue in this competition,” stated Jim Bryan, executive director of Boeing Integrated Air and Missile Defense. “By combining proven seeker expertise with a purpose-built interceptor, we are delivering thoughtful, effective advances in air and missile defense that meet mission needs.” Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.