- Lockheed has pledged $423 million in cost sharing
- Prototype results will guide future production decisions
- The 2027 Defense R&D Summit will explore trusted AI and more
Lockheed Martin has received an other transaction agreement from the U.S. Army to develop the Future Interceptor for the service’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense, or IAMD, portfolio.
Interceptor development is one of several efforts the Army is pursuing under its modernization strategy to address advanced air and missile threats. Defense officials and industry leaders will examine unmanned systems, trusted AI and autonomy, directed energy, quantum computing and other emerging technologies at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2027 Defense R&D Summit on Feb. 4. Save your seat now to join the conversation shaping the future of defense innovation.
The Army said Thursday the government will provide $660.4 million and Lockheed will contribute $423 million in cost sharing, bringing the project’s total estimated value to $1.08 billion.
What Is the Future Interceptor Program?
The Future Interceptor is an air and missile defense weapon the Army is developing to counter increasingly advanced threats, with planned improvements in reach, operating altitude, speed and maneuverability. The service intends for the interceptor to operate alongside its current IAMD systems and reinforce its multilayered defense architecture.
What Is the Scope of the Army OTA?
Under the OTA, Lockheed and the Army will develop prototypes and carry out testing and evaluation to measure how the system performs against the service’s operational requirements.
The program’s development strategy centers on technical assessment, rapid innovation and well-informed acquisition choices to meet the Army’s future air and missile defense needs. The Army will base subsequent development and production decisions on prototype results, operational requirements, available resources and applicable acquisition processes.
What Did Army Officials Say About the Award?
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, vice chief of staff and acting chief of staff of the Army, said the service is pursuing a combination of high-end and low-cost munitions as part of its focused modernization strategy.
“The Future Interceptor is exactly the type of cutting-edge technology we need,” Gen. LaNeve added.
Brent Ingraham, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, called the Future Interceptor contract a key milestone in the service’s push to counter emerging threats through faster innovation and stronger industry partnerships.
Lt. Gen. Frank Lozano, portfolio acquisition executive for fires, described advanced interceptor capabilities as essential to sustaining the country’s defensive edge.
“The Future Interceptor program reflects the Army’s commitment to accelerating innovation, leveraging proven technologies and strengthening the layered defenses that protect our forces and national interests at home and abroad,” he said.
What Other Missile Defense Work Has Lockheed Martin Secured?
The Future Interceptor agreement builds on Lockheed’s expanding air and missile defense portfolio. The company’s missiles and fire control business previously secured a $347.5 million Army contract to improve prototype air and missile defense systems. In June, Lockheed landed a potential $35 billion contract to produce Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors.
The demand for the company’s interceptors has also driven up its backlog. A seven-year deal for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors helped push Lockheed’s missile backlog to $142.5 billion by the end of the third quarter, nearly three times what the unit carried at the close of 2025.
Beyond the Army, the U.S. Space Force selected Lockheed to develop Space-Based Interceptor capabilities, with the company working toward an integrated demonstration by 2028.
