The U.S. Army is seeking a new generation of low-cost surface-to-air missile designed to counter unmanned aerial systems. The program aims to deliver a weapon with significantly greater range than existing affordable interceptors, and on an ambitious timeline. By the end of FY2027 (September 30, 2027), the project is expected to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, meaning prototype missiles will have completed field testing. By early 2028, contractors are expected to deliver 50 missiles for operational evaluation.
The new interceptor is being developed under the Next Generation C-sUAS Missile (NGCM) program, with the request for information (RFI) recently published on SAM.gov.
Read more: Only Two Realistic Sources Exist for Ukraine's PAC-3 Patriot Interceptors, Production Lines and Partner Stockpiles, But Iran War Emptied the Gulf's "Treasure Chest"
According to Defense News, the new missile must remain compatible with the existing Coyote launcher, requiring little or no modification, and integrate with fielded radar systems including Sentinel A3/A4, LTAMDS, AN/TPQ-53, and others. The NGCM system will be available in both fixed-site and mobile configurations.
From Defense Express's perspective, the missile's projected performance makes it a genuinely capable solution against U.S. DoD Group 2 and Group 3 drones – that is, UAVs weighing roughly 10–25 kg and up to 600 kg, respectively. This includes the ability to engage targets such as the Shahed/Geran family of long-range attack drones.
Its planned performance appears sufficient for that mission. The missile is expected to have an engagement range of more than 16 km, with a long-term objective of extending that to over 25 km, while intercept altitude is projected to reach 6–8 km. Guidance will rely on an active radar seeker.
These characteristics would eliminate one of the principal limitations of today's lower-cost interceptor missiles, such as Estonia's Mark I or Canada's CM-70, whose relatively short engagement ranges can complicate the interception of fast-moving targets, including jet-powered long-range attack drones. Although NGCM is officially intended as a counter-UAS missile, its performance could potentially make it effective against cruise missiles as well.
However, NGCM's biggest weakness may ultimately be its price. As part of a planned procurement of 5,000 missiles, the U.S. Army is targeting a unit cost below $150,000. Yet if the final price settles anywhere near $100,000 per missile, using it against significantly cheaper long-range attack drones would remain economically questionable.
That also raises a broader question: why develop a separate missile at all when the United States is already working on a next-generation Stinger replacement, which industry participants – including RTX (formerly Raytheon) – have repeatedly described as a more cost-effective solution for countering aerial threats.
Interestingly, under the same NGCM (Next-Generation Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System Missile) program, AeroVironment received a contract last year to continue development of its Freedom Eagle-1 interceptor. Most likely, the Army is now seeking additional competing designs, although AeroVironment previously secured the contract ahead of competitors including RTX, and the service may also have revised its requirements for the program.
Earlier, Defense Express examined how long it takes to develop a modern long-range surface-to-air missile, using South Korea's KSAM-II program as an example, where a prototype is currently under development.
Read more: BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin's Secret FalconWorks and Skunk Works Units Reveal Blizzard, Looks Like a Cruise Missile but Called Modular Multi-Mission Drone
