Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano: US Army Eyes 5-Year Development Program for New Interceptor Missile

Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano, U.S. Army program executive officer for missiles and space, disclosed that the service is preparing for a five-year project to develop a new weapon for its Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2. 

Lozano, a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker, told Breaking Defense at the recent Eurosatory defense trade show in Paris that the Army’s request for information on a potential IFPC Inc 2 interceptor supplier issued in January indicated no “off-the-shelf-capability” available. 

The search for a new interceptor comes after the Army awarded an IFPC Increment 2 contract to a Dynetics-RTX partnership for a prototype launcher called Enduring Shield armed with an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.

It is now evident that the Army needs a second interceptor more effective in countering supersonic cruise missiles flying at lower altitudes, Lozano explained. He anticipates the IFPC Inc 2 interceptor development to run from 2029 to 2030 before the new weapon starts production if the Army’s plan materializes.

The Army envisions a new interceptor with the capability of an AIM-120D advanced medium-range air-to-air missile with smaller rounds and smaller rocket motors, Lozano added.