Pentagon now has fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptors after the war with Iran
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The Pentagon has awarded X-Bow Systems almost $11 million to develop a lower-cost interceptor system under a missile defense program.
The project falls under the Missile Defense Agency's Rapid Response Small Launcher Technology program and seeks to create a weapon that could cost below $750,000 per launch.
That figure amounts to roughly one-fifth the cost of a Patriot missile, the current top-tier standard for air defense systems.
The Missile Defense Agency selected X-Bow through its Low-Cost Interceptor program, which focuses on developing affordable systems against advanced aerial threats.
The company will use the funding to continue propulsion work and prepare a prototype for a planned flight demonstration.
X-Bow produces its solid rocket motors and propellant internally, allowing the company to control more parts of its manufacturing process.
The agreement requires the firm to deliver a prototype system by late 2027, although that stage will not represent a fully operational weapon.
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The Pentagon has faced pressure because existing interceptor systems remain expensive and difficult to produce quickly.
The war in Iran revealed a major setback as the U.S. is now left with about 250 THAAD rounds and less than 1,000 Patriot interceptors.
Patriot replacement rounds cost around $3.9 million each, while manufacturing takes years and depends on a small number of established suppliers.
“The contract will aim to address the critical need to expand the SRM industrial base, which is currently reliant on a duopoly of two primary manufacturers,” said the US Department of Defense in its contract announcement.
X-Bow said its production methods could help create affordable weapons while increasing manufacturing speed for military requirements.
