COSTA MESA, Calif., — Anduril Industries has unveiled the Steelfin family of surface-to-air interceptor missiles, designed to counter cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic threats, manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft.
The company is developing the missile family around a common architecture intended to support multiple air-defense missions while reducing production costs and increasing interceptor output.
Two-Stage Modular Design
Steelfin uses a two-stage architecture consisting of a solid rocket booster and a terminal interceptor.
The first-stage booster can be varied according to requirements for range, performance, launch configuration and packing density. The second stage uses a common baseline airframe, avionics, software, flight controls and interfaces across the Steelfin family.
Modular connections allow different seekers and mission equipment to be installed without redesigning the complete missile.
Anduril is considering 10-inch, 18-inch and 21-inch booster diameters for different configurations. The company has also indicated that Steelfin variants can use kinetic interceptors and fragmentation warheads.
Today’s missile defense model does not scale. The modern fight demands an interceptor that can match cost and capability to threat. Introducing Steelfin. https://t.co/d4ZYpB0iSu
— Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) October 12, 2026
Designed for Multiple Air-Defense Missions
The Steelfin family is intended to cover missions ranging from point defense and lower-tier integrated air and missile defense to upper-tier ballistic missile defense.
One configuration is being positioned for the U.S. Army's Future Interceptor effort, which seeks an interceptor capability between the PAC-3 MSE and higher-tier missile-defense systems. Anduril has not confirmed that Steelfin has been selected for the program.
The company has stated that one configuration could perform 100% of THAAD missions for a fraction of the cost, while another could perform 80% of PAC-3 missions for less than 50% of the cost.
Lower-Cost Interceptor Target
Anduril is targeting a cost that represents a fraction of existing benchmark interceptors in each mission class. Company executives have indicated an aim of roughly one-third the cost of the Patriot PAC-3 MSE.
Specific Steelfin unit prices have not been released.
Compatibility With Existing Launchers
Steelfin variants are designed to operate with several existing and emerging launch systems, including:
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M903A2 Patriot launcher
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Mk 41 Vertical Launch System
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Typhon launcher
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Emerging containerized launch systems
The missiles are also designed to work with existing fire-control software, including Aegis and the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS).
Common Production Line
Anduril plans to manufacture Steelfin variants using shared production lines, tooling, technicians and facilities. The company says this approach would allow production capacity to be shifted toward a particular variant when demand increases.
The missiles also use open interfaces that can support commercial off-the-shelf components and subsystem designs from multiple vendors. Anduril said this can expand the supplier base and reduce the risk of production interruptions.
The company initially plans to produce several thousand Steelfin variants per year, with longer-term plans to move toward hundreds of thousands annually.
Testing and Production Timeline
Anduril said it has spent years developing Steelfin while investing alongside multiple customers. The company has completed ballistic testing with representative air vehicles and plans to begin flight testing of Steelfin variants in 2027.
Full-rate production is targeted for late 2028 or early 2029. Anduril has not announced a fielding date.
Growing Demand for Air Defense
The Steelfin announcement comes as demand for air and missile defense systems remains high and existing interceptor stockpiles face pressure from ongoing conflicts.
Lockheed Martin has introduced PAC-3 ACE, described as a lower-cost option compared with PAC-3 MSE, and PAC-3 Edge, aimed at improved effectiveness against hypersonic threats. European companies including MBDA and Diehl Defence are also developing new air-defense missiles.
Ukrainian company Fire Point is developing the FP-7.x interceptor under the Freyja program with European partners.
Anduril's Steelfin approach is centered on a common missile architecture and shared manufacturing processes across multiple variants, with the aim of increasing interceptor production while providing different configurations for different air and missile defense requirements.
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