Lockheed Martin has successfully completed a major flight test involving the missile seeker developed for the US Army’s Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) competition.
During the NGSRI Seeker Characterization Flight Test, a Command Launch Assembly launched the company’s QuadStar interceptor equipped with the advanced seeker, which then executed a tactical flight profile.
Lockheed Martin said the seeker incorporates artificial intelligence-based signal processing and an open-systems architecture designed to enable faster software updates and modular capability enhancements at reduced cost.
The test was intended to verify the seeker’s ability to capture imagery, process onboard sensor data, and sustain target tracking against threats including drones, rotary-wing aircraft, and fixed-wing platforms.
According to the company, the trial successfully validated the seeker’s sensor and guidance performance while also confirming the operational effectiveness of both the Command Launch Assembly and the QuadStar interceptor.
The Seeker Characterization Flight Test represented a major risk-reduction milestone for the NGSRI program. Lockheed noted that the missile advanced from initial concept to first flight in January 2026 within just 26 months, with the latest flight test completed only three months later, underscoring the accelerated pace of development.
Replacing the Stinger Missile
Lockheed Martin and RTX are currently competing under the US Army’s NGSRI program to replace the aging FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air defense missile.
Both companies received development contracts in September 2023.
Earlier in 2026, RTX completed a ballistic test of its NGSRI interceptor in February, while Lockheed Martin showcased a full-scale assembly of its missile system to US Army officials at a Texas facility in April.
The winning interceptor is expected to enter low-rate initial production by 2028.
