U.S. Army Seeks Longer-Range Drone Defense With Lockheed Martin NGSRI Missile to Replace Stinger.

Lockheed Martin presented its Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) at AUSA 2026 as a potential replacement for the U.S. Army’s FIM-92 Stinger missile. Designed to engage drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft at greater distances, the new interceptor aims to extend short-range air defense coverage for infantry and mechanized units facing increasingly diverse aerial threats.

Lockheed Martin presents its Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) at AUSA 2026 in Washington D.C., designed to replace the U.S. Army’s FIM-92 Stinger missile with longer-range air defense capabilities against drones, helicopters and low-flying aircraft. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The American defense manufacturer is developing the interceptor as part of the U.S. Army's effort to modernize its short-range air defense capabilities, which still rely heavily on the Stinger. Although the missile remains in service with numerous Western armed forces, the increasing use of drones and the evolution of aerial threats have created a growing requirement for weapons capable of intercepting targets at longer distances. The NGSRI program addresses these requirements by seeking improvements in detection, guidance, and interception performance while retaining a configuration suitable for infantry units.

Lockheed Martin's proposed NGSRI solution combines advanced optical detection technology, a high-speed interceptor, and an architecture designed for integration with air defense networks. The manufacturer states that its engagement range exceeds that of the Stinger, while its higher velocity is intended to reduce flight time to targets. Exact figures for maximum range, speed, and interception altitude have not been publicly disclosed. These characteristics are intended to extend the area of protection available to infantry units and mechanized formations by allowing them to engage aerial threats at greater distances.

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The missile incorporates a seeker designed to detect and track aerial targets by processing information collected through its onboard sensors. On May 11, 2026, Lockheed Martin announced the successful completion of a seeker characterization flight test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. During the evaluation, a QuadStar missile launched from a command and launch assembly followed a trajectory representative of a tactical engagement at a distance exceeding the capabilities of the previous system. The test verified image acquisition, onboard signal processing, and target tracking, three functions required for intercepting moving aerial threats.

Lockheed Martin's solution also uses an open architecture intended to support future upgrades to its guidance and data processing systems. This approach is designed to allow software and selected components to be modernized in response to emerging threats without requiring a complete redesign of the interceptor. In April 2026, the manufacturer demonstrated the missile's final assembly process to U.S. Army representatives at its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center in Grand Prairie, Texas. The company is incorporating additive manufacturing techniques to simplify production and reduce assembly times, an important consideration for a weapon intended to equip American forces in large quantities.

The NGSRI program remains the subject of an industrial competition. Raytheon, an RTX subsidiary and the current manufacturer of the Stinger, is also developing its own solution. On July 15, 2026, the company announced the successful completion of several guided missile firings at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. Interceptors launched from a soldier-portable command and launch assembly hit and destroyed simulated aerial threats. Raytheon's system combines precision optical guidance with a highly loaded grain solid rocket motor developed by Northrop Grumman. Both manufacturers are pursuing greater engagement ranges and improved target acquisition performance, although their respective tests represent different stages of technical validation.

For the U.S. Army, the operational purpose of NGSRI extends beyond replacing an aging missile. A portable interceptor with increased range would allow infantry units and mobile air defense teams to engage hostile drones or helicopters before they reach defended positions, vehicles, or logistics areas. Improved tracking capabilities could also facilitate engagements against smaller or highly maneuverable targets. At the same time, integration with air defense networks would enable closer coordination between units dispersed across the battlefield, particularly during maneuver operations conducted under persistent aerial threats.

The U.S. Army plans to incorporate the future interceptor into its broader short-range air defense modernization efforts, including compatibility with existing SGT STOUT vehicles and dismounted infantry configurations. NGSRI is intended to be launched from either a portable launcher or military vehicles, providing an air defense capability adaptable to different operational environments. U.S. defense budget documents identify fiscal year 2028 as a planned milestone for the transition toward production following rapid prototyping activities. The objective is to provide combat units with a missile offering greater range, faster target acquisition, and improved effectiveness against aerial threats while preserving the mobility required for frontline operations.

Replacing the Stinger with NGSRI is intended to provide the U.S. Army with short-range air defense capabilities better suited to current threats. Compared with the FIM-92, the future interceptor is designed to offer a longer engagement range, higher velocity to reduce flight time to targets, and improved detection and tracking capabilities against drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft. Its architecture is also expected to facilitate integration with air defense networks and support employment from both portable launchers and military vehicles. These developments would allow ground units to intercept threats earlier, extend their protective coverage, and maintain mobile air defense capabilities close to frontline operations.

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Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.