The US Army wants to develop a new, cheaper defense missile that can be used against drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats without rapidly depleting expensive Patriot missile stocks.
Medianews.az reports that according to information released on May 15 by the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office at Redstone Arsenal, the army is focused on creating low-cost air defense systems.
Under the initiative called “MOSAIC-26-03,” it is planned to develop interceptive munitions costing less than 1 million dollars each. The goal is to create a cheaper but scalable missile stockpile.
Recent years, especially conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, have shown that high-tech missile systems can rapidly be depleted.
According to the army's requirements, the new missiles should have speeds exceeding Mach 5, a flight range of over 120 miles, and be capable of operating within the atmosphere.
These missiles are intended to neutralize drones, cruise missiles, airplanes, and short-range ballistic threats. At the same time, the system must be resistant to electronic warfare conditions, complex combat environments, and mass attacks.
With this new project, the US Army aims to both produce cheaper missiles, increase air defense stocks, and maintain compatibility with the existing multilayered air defense network.