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Raytheon has successfully completed 10 subsystem tests for the US Army’s forthcoming Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor, a key development that will eventually replace the Stinger surface-to-air missile.
Tom Laliberty, president of land and air defence systems at Raytheon, said the tests were “a crucial step in meeting the US Army’s range and performance requirements for this transformational short‐range air defence capability”.
He added, “We are confident in our ability to rapidly deliver the Army an affordable, low-risk, highly producible NGSRI solution.”
Over the past several months, Raytheon’s team has been busy finalising all 10 subsystem demonstrations – each designed to ensure the new missile aligns with stringent system performance standards. Among the tests, the advanced seeker assembly notably achieved maximum range acquisition well beyond that of the current Stinger, in both laboratory and outdoor trials.
Other key trials included a revolutionary flight rocket motor that extended the intercept range for manoeuvring air defence engagements and a man-portable command launch assembly that enhanced operators’ capabilities to detect and identify aerial targets in low-visibility, real-world environments.
Additionally, arena testing of the missile’s warhead assembly confirmed its precise and repeatable lethality against a broad range of threats. The remaining tests focused on critical functions such as tracking, guidance, aerodynamic control, fusing and safety.
The next phase of the program will see US Army soldiers and Marines engaging directly with Raytheon’s Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) system during soldier touchpoint exercises, allowing for real-time feedback to improve the development and product maturation process, with the company also planning a full system flight test demonstration later this year.
Drawing on more than 60 years of expertise, Raytheon’s modern design and engineering practices – bolstered by advanced manufacturing techniques – are set to increase production speed while consistently meeting or exceeding customer performance requirements for both the US Army and Marine Corps.
