RESTON, Va. - The U.S. Army has awarded Leidos in Reston, Va., a $617 million contract to build and deliver additional launchers for the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2) system, a mobile, ground-based air defense capability designed to counter cruise missiles, uncrewed aircraft systems, and rockets, artillery, and mortars.
Combined with $356 million awarded in July and September 2025, Leidos now has nearly $1.2 billion in production contracts supporting the Army’s efforts to field the system at scale.
IFPC Inc 2 is part of the Army’s layered air and missile defense architecture and is designed to integrate with the Integrated Battle Command System, which connects sensors, weapons, and command nodes across the battlespace. Rather than relying on a single fire-control radar, the system can leverage external sensors such as the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel to provide targeting data, enabling a distributed sensor-to-shooter approach.
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Intercepting threats
The system’s Enduring Shield launcher, developed with Dynetics in Huntsville, Ala., uses an open architecture design that allows the Army to integrate multiple interceptor types. Early configurations have incorporated interceptors such as the AIM-9X Sidewinder and Hellfire missiles, while the service continues to compete for next-generation interceptors among several industry teams.
Leidos has more than 100 launchers committed for delivery. The contracts represent a significant investment in IFPC Inc 2 as it moves toward full-rate production. The funding also supports continued research, development, and testing, with additional orders expected through 2029.
"These awards reflect the Army's confidence in our team and the growing demand for a proven defense system that's available today," said Dino Pusinsky, vice president of the IFPC Inc 2 product area at Leidos. "We're working with our Army and industry partners to apply innovative manufacturing and engineering strategies that ensure this capability is ready when and where it's needed, while building resiliency and capacity across the supply chain to support sustained, scalable production."
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Leidos delivered the first IFPC Inc 2 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation launcher two months ahead of schedule. The milestone and recent production contracts underscore progress in the company’s air and missile defense portfolio, part of its NorthStar 2030 strategic focus supporting the U.S. Department of Defense.
In addition to kinetic interceptors, the Army is evaluating directed-energy options, including high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems, as part of the IFPC Inc 2 roadmap, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Built on an open architecture, IFPC Inc 2 is designed to integrate current and future effectors, providing warfighters with flexible, scalable protection against evolving aerial threats while maintaining compatibility with existing Army command-and-control systems and transport platforms.
