Overview
- The Army published a Sources Sought notice on Tuesday that asks industry to describe Next Generation Counter‑sUAS Missile (NGCM) concepts by Aug. 20 and makes clear the notice is market research rather than a contract award.
- The notice sets firm performance thresholds including a threshold intercept beyond 16 kilometers at 6 kilometers altitude, an objective of 25 kilometers at 8 kilometers altitude, and a launch time of five seconds or less.
- The service requires the NGCM to integrate with existing systems, including compatibility with the Coyote Launcher with minimal changes and fit with Sentinel A3/A4, LTAMDS and TPQ‑53 radar architectures.
- The Army put a price target under $150,000 per missile and signaled a planned quantity buy of at least 5,000 rounds, prompting industry positioning by firms that already work on Coyote and related programs.
- The program aims for prototype field testing at TRL‑7 by the end of fiscal 2027 and delivery of 50 missiles for an operational assessment in Q1 FY2028, a schedule that could ease interceptor shortfalls and shape investments in lasers, microwaves, and expanded missile production.