Anduril Unveils Steelfin Affordable Missile Interceptor

Anduril revealed the Steelfin family of missile interceptors on Oct. 12, saying one version of the long-range, affordable weapon meets requirements for the U.S. Army’s Future Interceptor program. 

The two-stage Steelfin family will be offered in several sizes, including with 10-in., 18-in. and 21-in. dia. for the booster rocket.

The concept means the Steelfin family is designed to cover the full range of the U.S. military inventory for advanced interceptor, including the 21-in. dia. of the Raytheon SM-3 Block IIA, 15.7-in. dia. of the Lockheed Martin Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program and the 10-in. dia. of the Lockheed Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3.

Most immediately, the smallest version of Steelfin appears targeted for the Future Interceptor requirement. 

The Army plans for the Future Interceptor to fill a range gap between the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement and the Talon interceptor from the THAAD program, said Stephen Milano, Anduril’s vice president for Advanced Projects. 

“From a sizing and performance perspective, Steelfin is a natural fit in that domain space,” Milano told reporters on the eve of the opening day of the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting. 

The booster is only one element of Anduril’s modular concept. The upper stage of the Steelfin interceptor is designed to accommodate different sensors, including radars and infrared seekers, Milano said.

The intent is to provide a core design that can cover a wide range of advanced and high-speed threats, but still offer the U.S. military an option that is affordable enough to be used against Shahed-class one-way attack munitions.

“You have the flexibility to be able to engage Shahed-like things with the appropriate-cost missile, as opposed to firing the most exquisite system at the threat every time,” Milano said.