AUSA 2025: US Army awards IFPC second interceptor OTA

The US Army has awarded a contract for prototyping a second interceptor for the Indirect Fire Protection Capability to Lockheed Martin. (Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin has won an other transaction authority (OTA) for prototyping a second interceptor for the US Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2), the company announced on 15 October.

AV, a merger of AeroVironment and BlueHalo, is providing expertise from its Freedom Eagle missile technology while Lockheed Martin is providing its missile technology for a 10-month trade study phase, said Chris Murphy, business development director for Integrated Air and Missile Defense Advanced Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. Boeing and Rafael told Janes that they anticipated an OTA although they had not yet been awarded one.

An army spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment to confirm the contract or pending contracts.

“We're completing negotiations for an OTA and expect the formal contract award shortly,” a Boeing spokesperson told Janes on 15 October.

A version of the Tamir missile was submitted to the army for this programme, Joseph Anderson, CEO of Rafael Systems Global Sustainment (the US subsidiary of Rafael), confirmed to Janes on 15 October.

“The IFPC 2nd Interceptor programme will provide a robust and integrated solution to fill the gap between short-range air-defence systems and the Patriot air and missile defence system,” said Lockheed Martin in a press release.

The original interceptor selected for IFPC Inc 2 is Raytheon's AIM-9X Sidewinder, launched from a Leidos Dynetics ground-based system, but the army wanted a weapon more suited for subsonic and supersonic cruise missiles.

AV's Freedom Eagle was recently downselected for the Next-Generation Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Missile (NGCM).