Precision Fire Control program (USN)

[joshjosh]

The Precision Fire Control program is a sizeable Navy RDT&E program that has been under-reported. It seeks to develop a new fire control architecture intended to defeat complex raids of cruise and hypersonic missiles using multiple types of interceptors, including gun projectiles like the HVP and a 2.75” rocket design that uses existing components (like APKWS). It seems there may also be an effort to develop a new, large, low-cost missile.

The program has been split up and spun off in different ways, but it appears that over $101M may have been spent or requested from FY23 through FY26, according to budget documents.

From the ONR:

Precision Fire Control and Low-Cost Interceptors​

Advancing fire control technologies to enable cruise missile defense using small, low-cost interceptors that contribute to the layered defense of surface combatants and expeditionary forces both in capability and capacity to defeat complex raids of hypersonic missiles and cruise missiles.

Objectives​

• Develop precision guidance and fire control technologies
• Demonstrate engagement of surrogate air threats with hypervelocity projectiles (HVPs) and modified MK 66 2.75-inch rockets
• Develop low-cost missiles to intercept hypersonic missiles and aircrafts at high altitudes

Research Areas​

• Novel fire control and communication waveforms
• Precision aero-control devices
• Adaptive and collaborative guidance laws
• High acceleration-tolerant electronic components

Applications​

• Advanced RF seekers
• Advanced radar track filters
• Gun-launched guided projectiles
• Small guided missile interceptors

And from FY26 RDT&E budget documents:

Title: Precision Fire Control (PFT)

Description:
The Precision Fire Control (PFC) INP will develop a fire control architecture that delivers high precision, high update rate guidance solutions to enable cruise missile defense with small, low-cost interceptors and dramatically increase number of interceptors per ship or Expeditionary Advanced Base. It will develop fire control capability for multiple interceptors (missiles and gun projectiles) that contribute to layered defense of surface combatants, expeditionary forces, and homeland protection. It will develop a PFC-enabled low-cost missile (LCM) based on existing 2.75" rocket components.

FY 2025 Plans:
Continue

• Applied research of a fire control architecture that delivers high precision and update rate guidance solution to enable cruise missile defense with multiple low-cost interceptors (missiles and gun projectiles).
• Prototyping of PFC fire control elements and HVP flight test units.

Complete

• Design studies for PFC technologies and LCTDM.

FY 2025 Plans:
Continue

• Design and Prototyping of PFC Increment 2 fire control elements
• Procurement of 2–3 Hyper Velocity Projectiles (HVP) and 15 Low Cost Terminal Defense Missile (LCTDM) flight test units.
• Interceptor guidance testing with HVP and LCTDM.
• Combat systems integration studies.

Complete

• Ship integration studies
• Design and Prototyping of Precision Fire-Control (PFC) Increment 1 fire control elements.

FY 2026 Base Plans:

Continue the PFC INP by working the following tasks:

• Integration of multi-function data link (MFDL) 2 fire control element.
• Procurement of 5 Hypervelocity Projectiles (HVP) and 20 Low-Cost Terminal Defense Missiles (LCTDM) flight test units and test targets.
• Interceptor guidance testing with HVP and LCTDM.
• Combat systems integration studies.
• Complete combat systems integration studies.
• Complete design and prototyping of Precision Fire-Control (PFC) Increment 2 fire control elements.

 

[joshjosh]

This may or may not be related, but in September 2025 the MDA solicited white papers for a "Low Cost Interceptor."

...innovative approaches to rapidly demonstrate very low cost (<$750K per missile), modular interceptor designs to counter ballistic and hypersonic threats. This solicitation is for a concept demonstration effort utilizing readily available components and technologies within a very compressed schedule.
Multiple attributes should be considered in this area, such as: ability to intercept threats including ballistic, maneuvering, hypersonic, and cruise missiles; ability to intercept threats with ranges from Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs), Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs), and Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs); maximization of intercept range; ability to intercept at endo-atmospheric and/or exo atmospheric altitudes; ability to field an initial demonstration capability in 2-5 years; ability to disrupt the threat by rapidly developing a low cost interceptor.
To effectively defend against large scale attacks from low cost, Supersonic Cruise Missiles (SCM), SRBM/MRBM, and Hypersonic
Glide Vehicles (HGV), MDA is examining interceptor options for considerably decreased unit costs in exchange for a slightly reduced performance rate. Proposed concepts must utilize open system architecture standards, and it is preferable the
concepts utilize:
Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) / Government off-the-shelf (GOTS) components and supply chains
Previously developed subsystems
Rapid and low-cost manufacturing practices

The minimum required interceptor performance and characteristics are capable of endo-atmospheric engagements against ballistic and hypersonic targets; Mach 5+ flyout speeds to >200km range; onboard terminal seeker for endgame engagement; blast/frag warhead; modular design with open interfaces for ease of upgrade and fitting alternate warheads; and control interfaces adapted to legacy launch and mission control systems. The LCI must be capable of receiving in-flight targeting updates and possess sufficient maneuverability to intercept airborne hypersonic targets. The size of the missile is limited to <10 in diameter to fit the M903 and quad-pack in a Vertical Launch System (VLS). Options for low-cost containerized launchers should also be considered provided they meet the same open interface requirements.

 

[TomS]

Interesting. The land-based HVP tests have required a specialized interferometer to take radar tracking data (e.g. from a GATOR radar) and convert that into a usable fire control output. That suggests that SPY-1 or SPY-6 might not be precise enough either and needs a similar add-on to provide a suitable fire control solution for HVP.

 

[TomS]

This may or may not be related, but in September 2025 the MDA solicited white papers for a "Low Cost Interceptor."

The LCI must be capable of receiving in-flight targeting updates and possess sufficient maneuverability to intercept airborne hypersonic targets. The size of the missile is limited to <10 in diameter to fit the M903 and quad-pack in a Vertical Launch System (VLS). Options for low-cost containerized launchers should also be considered provided they meet the same open interface requirements.

On the Navy side, this sounds more like a replacement program for the Compact Agile Interceptor.

 

[joshjosh]

On the Navy side, this sounds more like a replacement program for the Compact Agile Interceptor.

Yeah we were just discussing the CAI over here: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/us-navy-standard-missile-family.7671/post-867422

No further development of the Compact Agile Interceptor? Zero dollars requested for FY26, and I can't find evidence of this program elsewhere. From the FY26 Navy RDT&E BA 1-3:

FY 2025 to FY 2026 Increase/Decrease Statement:
The decrease in funding from FY 2025 to FY 2026 is due to this INP completing Applied Reserarch development in FY 2025
Background:
Title: Compact Agile Interceptors
Description: The US Navy lacks both in capability and capacity interceptors that have the ability to defeat complex raids of hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles and surface vessels. The Compact Agile Interceptor INP will use small diameter missiles to achieve a higher packing efficiency. Disruptive seeker technology, which weighs mere ounces will replace wasted pounds of payload weight and allow for higher speed missile interceptors. The seedling will evaluate multiple propulsion technologies including solid fuel ramjets, highly loaded grain propellants, and active throttling of solid rockets. The missiles airframe may be staged to enable the interceptor(s) the greatest agility to overmatch the threat. Multiple warhead technologies will be evaluated including reactive materials, kinetic warheads, and tailorable fragment warheads. The Activity identified in Project Unit 3506 specifically addresses Applied Research in support of the Compact Agile Interceptors INP effort.
FY 2025 Plans:
Initiate
- Independent Cost Estimate for the proposed INP program
- Procurement of 2-3 flight test units with selected propulsion concept
- Live fire proof of concept flight demonstration of propulsion concept
Complete
- Mission Analysis to establish Capability & Limitations of Engagement Envelope
- Propulsion/Payload Study to establish Missile Architecture and Technology Design Objectives

@Forest Green thinks the CAI was really just a program to modify a PAC-3.

I didn't read the budget documents that way, however. CAI sounded to me like the early stages of a program for something new.

Then there's also the Navy Modular Missile program, which has been around since 2021.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/navy-modular-missile-program-nmm.49694/

And these programs all either have obvious overlap or seem related.

We're great at starting programs but not so great at procuring systems in needed quantities