Raytheon has completed a ballistic test of the United States Army’s Next Generation Short Range Interceptor, a new man-portable air defense missile intended to replace the Stinger, the company announced on Feb. 2, 2026.
According to Raytheon, the test demonstrated the interceptor’s ability to track drone targets and be launched from a shoulder-fired system. The company said it funded the ballistic test to demonstrate technical maturity and collect performance data ahead of a planned flight test demonstration for the U.S. Army.
The interceptor under development is part of the Army’s effort to field a new short-range air defense weapon capable of addressing evolving aerial threats, including unmanned aerial systems. Raytheon stated that the test focused on validating core missile functions rather than a full end-to-end intercept.
“Raytheon’s investment in NGSRI demonstrates the company’s strong partnership with the U.S. Army and our commitment to equipping service members with this advanced capability,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “We continue to prioritize rapid learning and testing to ensure the Army receives a cost-effective and technologically superior interceptor.”
Raytheon said the interceptor can be fired from both vehicle-mounted and shoulder-launched platforms, allowing it to be integrated into existing Army and Marine Corps short-range air defense formations. The design is intended to provide higher speed and improved performance against a range of aerial threats compared to legacy systems.
As noted by the company, Raytheon worked with Northrop Grumman in 2025 to conduct multiple tests of Highly Loaded Grain solid rocket motors. Highly Loaded Grain is a solid propellant technology that increases burn time and energy output compared to conventional rocket motors, extending interceptor range and engagement performance.
Raytheon stated that data from the rocket motor tests is being applied directly to the NGSRI design. The company added that it continues to coordinate with the U.S. Army to meet program milestones and align with the service’s development schedule.
NGSRI is designed to replace the Stinger missile, which has been in service for decades and has seen extensive use against helicopters, aircraft, and more recently unmanned aerial systems. The Army has identified the need for a successor with improved speed, range, and resistance to modern countermeasures.
According to Raytheon, the NGSRI program draws on more than 60 years of the company’s experience in air defense missile development. The design uses a modular system architecture and automated manufacturing processes intended to support faster production once the system enters full-rate manufacturing.
The company said the ballistic test is part of a broader series of risk-reduction activities intended to mature the design before full flight testing. These steps are meant to reduce technical uncertainty ahead of operational demonstrations required by the Army.
Raytheon operates as part of RTX, which supplies missile systems, sensors, and air defense technologies to U.S. and allied forces. The company’s land and air defense portfolio includes interceptors, radars, and command-and-control systems.
