“Low-cost interceptor missiles”: the US army seeks a Patriot system for less than a million dollars

The subject had already been put on the table in 2024 before being abandoned. The United States is still seeking to acquire new, lower-cost interceptor missiles for the Patriot defense system.

The US Army’s Capabilities Program Manager (CPE) confirmed, at the end of last week, the existence of a “very competitive call for tenders for low-cost interceptor missiles (LCI) and their subsystems”, in the words of Major General Frank Lozano on LinkedIn.

“Succiter un greatest d’interest”

The American army therefore wants to find a solution to the colossal amounts committed on the Iranian or Ukrainian fronts, in particular because of the Patriot system. The unit price of each PAC-3 MSE interceptor reached approximately $5.3 million, according to the Army’s latest proposed budget for fiscal year 2027.

The “Low-Cost Interceptor” (LCI), successor to the “Lower-Tier Future Interceptor” (LTFI) abandoned in 2024, should be more than five times cheaper, with a maximum announced cost of $1 million.

The tender details the target unit price of $250,000 for the four groups of components required: the complete interceptor munition (AUR), the fire control system, the rocket motor and seeker, and the flight guidance system.

“Our objective is to generate maximum interest and participation among all players in the missile technology sector,” explains General Frank Lozano. This initiative aims to award several contracts which will make it possible to develop different efficient and affordable missile interceptor solutions. HAS”