WASHINGTON — The U.S. Military has launched an effort to exchange Stinger missiles with a next-generation interceptor for Brief-Vary Air Protection functionality because the getting older weapon system heads towards obsolescence, in line with a solicitation just lately posted to the federal government contracting web site Sam.gov.
The request for data to trade for a brand new surface-to-air missile for the Military’s SHORAD system comes because the Pentagon has been sending Javelin and Stinger missiles to Ukraine to assist it combat the continuing Russian invasion. However even because the Military considers that model of the Stinger out of date, senior protection officers are discussing with trade how manufacturing could be ramped up.
A next-generation interceptor for SHORAD has lengthy been within the works, as detailed in fiscal 2022 price range paperwork practically a yr in the past. The service requested $1.5 million in FY22 to concern an RFI and conduct an trade day forward of a aggressive shoot-off, in line with these price range paperwork.
The plan is to award a contract within the second quarter of FY23, the paperwork observe, with design, growth, prototyping and efficiency evaluation ongoing by means of the fourth quarter of FY28.
Stinger could be fired from a shoulder-launched system, however the Military quickly fielded a Stryker-based SHORAD system outfitted with Stinger missiles to Europe final yr in response to an pressing request in theater. The Military is making ready to discipline a whole Stryker-based SHORAD battalion by the tip of 2022.
The service may even add a 50-kilowatt class laser weapon to the SHORAD system and is outfitting 4 prototypes with the aptitude because it prepares to carry a contest to construct extra.
“The Stinger-Reprogrammable Microprocessor (RMP) will turn into out of date in [FY]23 and Stinger Block I is present process a service life extension to increase its finish of helpful life,” the RFI notes. “The present Stinger stock is in decline.”
In accordance with the RFI, the Military plans to start design and growth of the substitute missile in FY23, which can result in manufacturing of 10,000 M-SHORAD “Inc. 3″ missiles starting in FY27.
The RFI requires soldier-portable options but additionally notes the system have to be able to integration with the Stinger Automobile Common Launcher (a element within the Increment 1 Stryker-based SHORAD system already fielded).
The Military expects the brand new missile to supply “improved goal acquisition with elevated lethality and ranges over present functionality,” the RFI states.
Potential candidates must be able to conduct a expertise demonstration in FY24, the RFI notes, that consists of “digital simulation, {hardware} in-the-loop and/or live-fire demonstration.” These programs must be prepared for an operational demonstration in FY26 that can embody live-fire engagements, in line with the solicitation.
The Military is nearing the tip of its Service Life Extension Program effort at McAlester Military Ammunition Plant, in line with a overview of price range paperwork from FY19 and FY20. The method replaces “getting older key elements” in present Stinger missiles.
The method additionally provides a Proximity Fuze (PROX) functionality to enhance its effectiveness towards unmanned plane system threats “by eliminating the necessity for hit-to-kill,” which suggests when the missile will get near a goal, the warhead explodes and something inside its burst radius is taken out.
Older price range paperwork point out the SLEP course of for Stinger is slated to wrap up in FY23, however the White Home hasn’t but launched detailed FY23 price range paperwork. The entire variety of Stingers that can bear the SLEP course of is 5,892 programs, in line with FY20 paperwork.
The Military is getting near being prepared to tell Congress of its preliminary plans to replenish each Javelin and Stinger stockpiles or ramp up manufacturing if wanted because it continues to supply the weapons to Ukraine, Doug Bush, Military acquisition chief, mentioned just lately.
No less than one lawmaker has argued the Pentagon must be weighing whether or not it is smart to ramp up an out of date line for Ukraine whereas the Military must modernize.
“What I additionally need convey into the dialog is a lot of these weapons that we’re speaking about are of a design of many years in the past. Is it the perfect use to reengage these traces or to improve? How lengthy will that take versus what we want? What may we doubtlessly want for Ukraine or different nations,” Home Air and Land Subcommittee chairman Donald Norcross, D-N.J., advised Protection Information.
Jen Judson is an award-winning journalist masking land warfare for Protection Information. She has additionally labored for Politico and Inside Protection. She holds a Grasp of Science in journalism from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon School.
Joe Gould is senior Pentagon reporter for Protection Information, masking the intersection of nationwide safety coverage, politics and the protection trade.