Army Selects Five Contractors to Develop Next-Generation Long-Range Missiles

The U.S. Army announced that five companies—Anduril, Castelion, Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Mach Industries—have been awarded contracts to develop prototypes for the Precision Strike Missile Increment 4 program. Each prototype must be capable of hitting moving targets at ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers and launching from existing HIMARS platforms while incorporating open-systems architecture for future upgrades. The contractors will participate in competitive fly-off tests in fiscal 2027 and 2028, with final selection expected in fiscal 2030.

The Army's decision to expand the competition represents a significant reset for the missile development program. The service had previously chosen two teams in 2023 but opted to restart the process with a broader vendor pool, now including newer defense firms alongside established contractors. This shift suggests the Army may be seeking fresh approaches to achieve the demanding technical requirements.

The Increment 4 program represents a substantial leap in capability, targeting roughly double the range of current systems while adding the ability to engage moving targets. The requirement for open-systems architecture indicates the Army's emphasis on flexibility, allowing future integration of advanced sensors and weapons without redesigning the entire platform.