Leidos, in collaboration with the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, has successfully conducted intercepts of UAS and cruise missiles using the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2) system, also known as Enduring Shield. The system was developed by Dynetics, a Leidos subsidiary, under a U.S. Army contract.
The missile flight test demonstrated the Enduring Shield’s ability to detect, track, engage and neutralise UAS and cruise missile targets. The system used a surface-launched AIM-9X missile and was integrated with the Army’s Integrated Battle Command System, Sentinel A3 radar and the Missile Datalink.
Dino Pusinsky, Leidos Enduring Shield Product Area Vice President, said:
“This event was a testament to our commitment to deliver products critical to supporting our customer to stay ahead of our adversaries. It marks another major step forward in evaluating the overall operational capability and lethality of the system.”
Leidos was recently awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal for additional hardware to support the Army’s Enduring Indirect Fires Protection Capability Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. The contract includes upgrades to the missile remote communications link and software, bolstering the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense architecture.
Larry Barisciano, Senior Vice President and Business Area Manager for Land Systems at Leidos, noted:
“We believe this award will let us showcase the ability of the IFPC Inc 2 system to transform warfighting capabilities as it progresses toward being declared operationally ready for our warfighters.”
The Enduring Shield is a ground-based, mobile defence system designed to protect critical civilian and military infrastructure from UAS and cruise missile threats. It offers utility in bridging the gap between short-range tactical air defences and strategic systems such as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Patriot missile forces.
As the system progresses toward operational readiness, Leidos is involved in the development of integrated air and missile defence, contributing to the military’s capability to address evolving aerial threats.
Post Image – A prototype of the Enduring Shield system taken in December 2023 during a delivery celebration for the program. (Post Image Credit: Leidos)
