L3Harris Advances Long-Range Drone Killer With $60M US Deal
The US Army has advanced development of a long-range drone interceptor through a contract worth up to $60 million awarded to L3Harris Technologies.
The three-year contract moves L3Harris’ Xtended Range Counter-sUAS Missile (XRC) into its second development phase, which will focus on flight-performance testing with a fully integrated interceptor.
The missile is designed to engage small- to medium-sized unmanned aircraft and other threats typically handled by short-range air defense systems.
L3Harris aims to deliver greater range, speed, and operational flexibility than current systems, but has not disclosed the interceptor’s expected range or speed.
The company is developing the weapon for the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center. Its design combines propulsion, guidance, and seeker technologies with an air-breathing ramjet engine intended to improve fuel efficiency and extend engagement range.
“We are leveraging L3Harris’ deep technical expertise across propulsion, guidance and advanced manufacturing to deliver a next-generation interceptor that meets the army’s evolving mission requirements,” Scott Alexander, President of L3Harris Propulsion Systems Missile Solutions, said.
Long-Range Counter-Drone Efforts
The XRC program is part of a wider effort to improve defenses against drones that can threaten troops and military installations from greater distances.
The army is pursuing interceptor technologies that can extend engagement range while addressing the cost of defeating relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft with conventional missiles.
Lower-cost interceptors could help forces preserve stocks of more expensive weapons for other threats.
The Defense Innovation Unit has also pursued new counter-drone capabilities through its Counter-UAS NEXT initiative, which selected companies to prototype systems for defeating larger unmanned aircraft. The effort aims to expand available options and improve integration with existing military systems.
