L3Harris awarded $60 million for US Army ramjet drone interceptor

L3Harris Technologies has secured a contract worth up to $60 million over three years to develop a long-range drone interceptor for the US Army. The project is part of the Xtended Range Counter-sUAS (XRC) missile program, managed by the Army's Aviation and Missile Center.

The interceptor utilizes a ramjet propulsion system, which draws oxygen from the air to improve fuel efficiency and extend engagement distances compared to conventional rocket motors. This design aims to provide greater range, speed, and operational flexibility than current systems, such as the Stinger missile.

The weapon is intended to target small and medium-sized unmanned aircraft, as well as traditional short-range air defense threats. The program has entered its second phase, which involves flight performance testing using a fully integrated interceptor prototype. The goal is to create a system compatible with existing launch infrastructure to minimize the need for new equipment.