Lockheed Martin has carried out a significant flight test for the missile seeker being developed under the US Army’s Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) program.
As part of the NGSRI Seeker Characterization Flight Test, the company launched its QuadStar missile using a Command Launch Assembly, with the interceptor flying a representative tactical trajectory during the evaluation.
The company stated that the seeker integrates AI-enabled signal processing technology alongside an open-architecture framework that supports rapid modernization and lower-cost modular upgrades.
The test focused on assessing the seeker’s ability to gather imagery, process sensor information onboard, and maintain accurate tracking against aerial threats such as drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft.
Results from the trial confirmed the effectiveness of the seeker’s guidance and sensing systems, while also validating the performance of the QuadStar interceptor and Command Launch Assembly.
Lockheed Martin described the SCFT as a major risk-reduction event for the NGSRI initiative. The company emphasized the rapid pace of development, moving the missile from concept stage to first flight in January 2026 within 26 months, before completing the latest seeker test just three months later.
Competition to Replace Stinger
Lockheed Martin and RTX remain the two contenders in the US Army’s NGSRI competition, which seeks a replacement for the legacy FIM-92 Stinger air defense missile system.
The companies were awarded contracts in September 2023 to develop competing interceptor solutions.
RTX completed a ballistic test of its NGSRI missile in February 2026, while Lockheed Martin later presented a full-scale interceptor assembly to Army representatives at its Texas facility in April.
The US Army expects the selected interceptor system to begin low-rate production by 2028.
