The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office – Missiles & Space (PEO M&S) has issued an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) production order, covering Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP), Full-Rate Production (FRP), and extensive support services. The first delivery order under this agreement will see Leidos produce 18 launchers to support Guam Defense Systems (GDS).
“We have been preparing for this phase long before our first prototype system delivers in 2023,” said Larry Barisciano, land systems lead for Leidos. “This latest production order underscores the demand for this critical capability.”
Barisciano emphasised the scalability and speed of the IFPC Inc 2 system, stating, “We’re driving proactive solutions to protect our warfighters and essential infrastructure worldwide.” He added, “We’re fiercely committed to delivering this mission-critical system with unmatched speed and precision.”
Colonel Andrew Lunoff, programme manager for the Army’s Short and Intermediate Effectors for Layered Defense (SHIELD), highlighted the strategic importance of the system. “This investment in cruise missile defense is essential to strengthening our integrated layered Air and Missile Defense capabilities,” he said.
The IFPC Inc 2’s open architecture allows for flexible configurations and integration with various interceptors, including the currently used AIM-9X. Future launchers will be ready to incorporate new interceptors as the Army develops additional options.
Cindy Gruensfelder, president of the Defense Systems Sector at Leidos, noted the role of the company’s 2019 acquisition of Dynetics in expanding production capacity. “We’re also rapidly delivering hardware and integrated systems to the warfighter at speed,” she said.
The new launchers are also set to play a key role in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Pacific Deterrence Initiative. The current production contract extends through December 2026, with further orders expected to continue through 2029.
