On October 12, 2026, according to Epoch Times, the U.S. defense technology company Anduril launched the Steelfin series of ground-to-air intercept missiles on Monday (October 12), aiming to reduce costs to one-third of the current Patriot PAC-3 MSE intercept missile. This new missile adopts a modular design to counter various threats ranging from low-cost attack drones to ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and beyond.
With the escalating demand for air defense systems due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the United States and its allies are rapidly expanding their arsenal.
Chris Brose, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril, stated that existing interception weapons are difficult to scale up production and cannot cope with the increasing number of threats. The company has invested several years in developing lower-cost interception missiles.
According to Reuters, Steelfin employs a two-stage structure, where the first stage booster can be adjusted according to range, performance, and launch requirements, while the second stage consists of the terminal interception missile, sharing the same body, avionics, and flight control system across all models.
Aviation Week pointed out that Steelfin will offer boosters of different sizes such as 10, 18, and 21 inches in diameter and can be paired with radar or infrared seekers. Anduril stated that this design allows different models to use the same production line, facilitating production adjustments based on demand.
The company aims to make Steelfin capable of countering low-cost targets like Iran’s Shahed drones as well as intercepting cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and other high-end threats.
Stephen Milano, an executive at Anduril, told Aviation Week, “You can choose a missile that fits the cost and intercept targets like Shahed without having to deploy the most advanced weapons system every time.”
Anduril is participating in the U.S. Army’s Low-Cost Interceptor Missile program with Steelfin. Previously, the company was selected to advance to the subsequent testing and showcasing stage in the xTech Apex Intercept competition hosted by the Army.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army is also advancing the Future Interceptor Program to seek a new generation of interception weapons, aiming to fill the range gap between PAC-3 MSE and THAAD Talon intercept missiles.
Milano stated that Steelfin’s size and performance meet the relevant requirements. However, Anduril has not confirmed whether they have been chosen for this program.
As reported by Breaking Defense, Lockheed Martin and another unnamed company have been selected to participate. Reuters noted that Anduril has conducted ballistic tests with representative flight vehicles for Steelfin and plans to begin flight tests in 2027.
The company plans to produce thousands of Steelfin missiles annually in the short term. Milano stated that full-scale production is expected to be reached by the end of 2028 or early 2029. Actual production volumes will depend on the demands of U.S. and overseas customers, with annual production potentially reaching close to hundreds of thousands if demand is strong.
Anduril plans to manufacture most of Steelfin’s subsystems at the Arsenal-1 factory in Ohio, and collaborate with partners for final integration. Solid rocket motors will be produced internally by Anduril, with some components sourced from external suppliers.
Three days before Steelfin’s debut, Lockheed Martin also unveiled the PAC-3 Edge interception missile on October 9, aimed at enhancing capabilities against hypersonic and other advanced missile threats.
According to Reuters, the PAC-3 Edge is equipped with a new seeker, upgraded flight control system, and a multi-pulse rocket motor supplied by Northrop Grumman.
The company estimates that its costs are roughly equivalent to the current PAC-3 MSE, with an annual production target of around 2,000 missiles.
In July of this year, the U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $5.86 billion for PAC-3 missile production expansion. The company previously signed a seven-year framework agreement with the Pentagon to increase PAC-3 annual capacity from approximately 600 to 2,000 missiles.