U.S. Navy Reveals Naval Modular Missile Architecture for Future Air Defense Interceptors.

The U.S. Navy has released a draft prototype solicitation for a common 10-inch interceptor that will anchor the Naval Modular Missile family across surface warships and future Virginia-class submarines. The design could expand missile capacity, accelerate new variants, and reduce production and sustainment burdens.

The Terminal Stage Interceptor uses five modules: seeker assembly, lethality, command, terminal-stage rocket motor, and control actuation. Different booster stacks and canisters would create a single-cell hypersonic long-range missile, dual-packed extended-range and quad-packed medium-range weapons for Mk 41 launchers, and an extended-range submarine missile for Virginia Payload Module tubes. The Navy’s stated production objective is 1,000 interceptors annually within five years of contract award.

Related News: US Navy to unveil open architecture blueprint for future naval modular missile family

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) launches a Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) during a live-fire test of the Aegis Combat System. (Picture source: US DoD)

Rather than developing a single new missile, the NMM program seeks to establish a common architecture capable of supporting multiple missions through the use of a modular interceptor that can be combined with different propulsion stages and mission-specific equipment. This approach aligns with a wider trend across U.S. defense acquisition programs toward reusing hardware and software components to accelerate capability development, simplify future upgrades, and improve interoperability.

The U.S. Navy officially initiated the effort through Project No. 26-10 – Naval Modular Missile (NMM) Terminal Stage Interceptor (TSI) Prototype Project, conducted under the S²MARTS Other Transaction Authority (OTA) and managed by the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). According to the Draft Request for Solutions (RFS) released on July 14 and the Coming Soon Notice issued several weeks earlier, the Navy is seeking a modular interceptor that will serve as the foundation of the future NMM family. While the existence of the program was first reported by Aviation Week, the official acquisition documents now provide additional insight into its objectives, overall architecture, and industrial strategy. The documents highlight the use of Weapon Open System Architecture (WOSA) principles, digital engineering, modular integration, advanced thermal management, high-speed flight technologies, and scalable manufacturing approaches. They also state that this initial solicitation represents the first step in developing a future family of modular naval missiles rather than a standalone weapon system.

Unlike previous generations of U.S. Navy interceptors, which were developed independently for specific missions, the NMM concept is centered on a common Terminal Stage Interceptor (TSI) that can be combined with different propulsion modules depending on the required range or launch platform. Such an architecture would allow multiple variants to share critical components, including the seeker, mission computer, software, and other electronic subsystems. This approach is consistent with the Department of Defense's increasing reliance on open architectures that can integrate new technologies more rapidly without requiring the complete redesign of each missile.

Figure published as part of the Naval Modular Missile (NMM) acquisition documentation illustrating the proposed family of modular interceptor configurations built around a common Terminal Stage Interceptor (TSI). (Picture source: U.S. Navy/NSTXL)

The companies participating in the program's preparation also illustrate this shift. Alongside firms specializing in propulsion systems, advanced materials, and hypersonic testing are companies with expertise in open architectures, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), embedded software, and digital interfaces. Several participants explicitly identify Weapon Open System Architecture and the Department of Defense's Government Reference Architecture (GRA) as core areas of expertise, indicating that software interoperability is being treated as a fundamental design requirement alongside aerodynamic and propulsion performance.

From an operational perspective, this approach could change how the U.S. Navy develops and modernizes its air and missile defense capabilities. Until now, different missions have relied on separate missile families, each with its own technical architecture, logistics chain, and modernization cycle. By adopting a common terminal interceptor that can be paired with different propulsion modules, the Navy could establish a single technological baseline from which multiple variants are developed for different engagement ranges or mission profiles. Improvements to the seeker, software, or mission computer could therefore be applied across several missile variants simultaneously, reducing development timelines while simplifying long-term sustainment.

USS Arleigh Burke launches a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) from its aft Mk 41 Vertical Launching System during Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT). The Standard Missile family will remain in service while the Naval Modular Missile program progresses through its prototype phase. (Source: U.S. DoD)

The architecture also addresses one of the principal challenges facing modern naval forces: countering saturation attacks involving cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, uncrewed aerial systems, and other airborne threats. Program documents indicate that the NMM family will include variants intended to optimize the use of Mk 41 Vertical Launching System cells. Such an approach would provide commanders with greater flexibility when configuring shipboard missile inventories by tailoring the number and type of interceptors to operational requirements while maximizing the defensive capacity of each vessel.

The official documents also show that the Navy is placing significant emphasis on the industrial dimension of the program. Evaluation criteria include not only technical performance but also manufacturing readiness, the ability to rapidly scale production, and the use of digital engineering methods to accelerate development. This reflects lessons drawn from recent conflicts, which have demonstrated that the effectiveness of a weapon system depends not only on its performance but also on the industrial base's ability to produce it quickly and at sufficient scale.

Although the Naval Modular Missile program remains in the prototype phase and the various Standard Missile variants will continue to equip U.S. Navy surface combatants for years to come, the initiative represents a change in how the service intends to develop future interceptor systems. Rather than simply replacing the existing Standard Missile family, the NMM program establishes the basis for a modular architecture designed to evolve alongside emerging threats while reducing the technical, logistical, and industrial complexity associated with maintaining multiple independently developed missile families.

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 lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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