Anduril Launches Steelfin Interceptor to Deliver Affordable High‑End Air‑Defense Solution

WASHINGTON — Anduril today introduced the Steelfin interceptor, which the company says will cost roughly one‑third of the price of the Patriot PAC‑3 MSE.

“Our military and our allies are confronting a surge of one‑way drones, ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic weapons that outpace existing interceptors in both scale and capability,” said Chris Brose, Anduril’s president and chief strategy officer, during a pre‑announcement briefing.

Brose explained that Anduril has been developing the Steelfin for several years, anticipating a growing demand for more affordable interceptors.

The interceptor is designed to be modular, allowing it to be equipped with various rocket motors and seekers and to launch from platforms such as PAC‑3, CAML, Typhoon, or containerized munitions canisters. Brose added that the system can be reconfigured to counter everything from low‑cost threats like Iranian Shahed drones to more sophisticated ballistic cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons.

Steve Milano, Anduril’s senior director of missiles, said the company is competing for the Army’s low‑cost interceptor program with the Steelfin. Anduril was among several vendors selected to proceed with testing and demonstrations after the Army’s recent xTech Apex Intercept competition, an effort to identify multiple effective and affordable interceptors.

Meanwhile, Anduril is also fielding the Steelfin in a separate competition. Breaking Defense reported Friday that Lockheed Martin and one other undisclosed firm have been selected for the Army’s Future Interceptor program, a previously unannounced effort to develop a next‑generation version of the PAC‑3 MSE.

Anduril executives declined to confirm whether the Steelfin has been selected for the Future Interceptor program. Nevertheless, Steve Milano, the company’s senior director of missiles, said the Steelfin is a “natural fit” for that effort. Under the program, the Army seeks a terminal‑storage interceptor measuring seven to ten inches with a ten‑to‑thirteen‑inch booster that can be integrated into Patriot launchers and the Common Autonomous Multi‑Domain Launcher (CAML). Milano noted that the Steelfin meets those specifications very well.

Milano forecasts that Anduril will begin full‑rate production of the Steelfin by the end of 2028 or early 2029. He estimated production could range from “multiple thousands” up to “hundreds of thousands” per year, depending on demand from U.S. and international customers.

Milano indicated that Anduril plans to manufacture most of the Steelfin’s sub‑assemblies at its Arsenal‑1 facility in Ohio, with final integration performed by a few partner firms. Regarding solid rocket motors, he said that while Anduril will produce some, others will be sourced from external suppliers.

The Steelfin’s configuration includes a modular mounting design, enabling the integration of both new providers and Anduril’s own internal rocket motor systems, Milano explained.

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