Raytheon’s proposed successor to the US Army’s Stinger missile, known as the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI), has successfully completed a ballistic test. Funded by the company, the trial demonstrated the interceptor’s ability to be launched from a man-portable system and to track drone targets, bringing the program closer to a full flight-test demonstration.
The proposed interceptor incorporates highly loaded grain solid rocket motors from Northrop Grumman to deliver increased range and speed, along with a new seeker designed to identify and engage targets at extended distances in both day and night conditions. Raytheon has also indicated that the NGSRI is backward-compatible with existing launcher systems.
The US Army initiated the NGSRI effort in 2022 through a request for information aimed at identifying a replacement for the aging Stinger missile, which is used to counter unmanned aerial systems as well as rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. In September 2023, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin were awarded contracts to develop competing interceptor designs with improved speed and lethality.
Both companies conducted a series of demonstrations in 2024 and 2025 to prepare for flight testing. In January 2026, Lockheed Martin completed the first flight test of its NGSRI candidate, advancing the missile from concept to first flight in just 26 months by leveraging advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.
