Lates News

After the U.S.-Iran war exposed the pressure on America's inventory of Patriot interceptors, defense companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon are competing to develop missiles that are cheaper and quicker to produce. In the past, the U.S. defense industry continually incorporated advanced guidance systems and propulsion into missiles, leading to individual prices exceeding $4 million and production cycles lasting years. Now, the Pentagon is urging companies to "adapt or be left behind," hoping to address inexpensive threats like drones at a lower cost. Lockheed has launched a budget version of the ACE interceptor, with each unit costing around $2 million, less than half the price of the enhanced PAC-3 MSE; Boeing is working on a super low-cost guidance system, aiming to reduce cost proportions; Northrop has introduced the Raider Hunter system, while Raytheon is expanding applications for the Coyote, a low-cost anti-drone missile. The U.S. Army states that not all targets require the most advanced and expensive interception systems. However, most low-cost options still require several years to reach mass production.