Next generation interceptor from Raytheon takes aim at drone warfare

Raytheon, an RTX business, has revealed a prototype for its Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI), a system designed to replace the combat-proven Stinger missile and meet the growing threat posed by drones and advanced airborne systems. Built with extensive input from soldiers and Marines, the new interceptor promises to fly both faster and farther, while integrating next-level sensing and modular design for rapid deployment.

A virtual reality demonstration showcased the weapon's capabilities through the eyes of operators in the field. Equipped with a new optic that allows enhanced night and day vision, soldiers could detect and engage targets invisible to the naked eye. "That night scenario was a big aha moment," said Lindsey Hoffman, capture director for NGSRI. "A Marine told us, 'This takes the fear away.' That quote stuck with all of us."

The NGSRI is fully compatible with launchers currently in use, allowing seamless integration into existing battlefield networks. Raytheon engineers built the prototype in less than two years, conducting ten subsystem demonstrations, and plan to complete the first full missile flight by the end of 2025.

Among its highlights: a highly loaded grain solid rocket motor that boosts both speed and range; an advanced seeker paired with a new shoulder-mounted command launch assembly; and modular manufacturing designed for rapid scaling. The rocket motor, co-developed with Northrop Grumman, achieves higher fuel density within the same volume, enabling significantly improved performance. "It's a challenge to get more range out of a fixed motor volume," said Will Strauss, technology director for the program, "but we are getting a significant amount."

In January 2025, the partners conducted their first ballistic test of the new rocket motor, validating its ability to deliver greater reach and velocity. Soldiers testing the system in virtual reality also influenced ergonomic improvements, leading to a lighter, single-piece launcher for improved handling.

Raytheon plans to leverage its advanced manufacturing facilities, automation, and robotics to accelerate production, while a modular open systems architecture will enable faster testing and updates. "When I see our engineering teams taking that feedback to heart and incorporating it into the next design change, it gives me hope that we're on the right path," said Bill Darne, Raytheon's director of short-range air defense and counter-UAS systems.

A retired U.S. Army colonel, Darne emphasized his personal stake in the program: "We have to provide our soldiers the capability that delivers every time. That's why I joined Raytheon after 27 years in the Army. I've used these systems in the field, and I've always had absolute confidence they'll work the way they're designed."