HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — April 15, 2026 : The U.S. Army has awarded Dynetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, a $617,164,135 contract for the fiscal year 2026 production of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment Two (IFPC Inc 2) air defense system. The award was issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal.
The contract, announced on April 14, 2026, combines cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price elements and supports full-rate production and sustainment of the Army’s mid-range air defense capability. Work under the agreement is scheduled for completion by November 30, 2029, with specific work locations and funding allocations to be determined on a per-order basis. The contract identifiers are W31P4Q-25-D-0003 and W31P4Q-26-F-0067. According to the Army, bids for the contract were solicited via the internet, with zero responses received.
Contract Scope and Deliverables
Under the fiscal 2026 production buy, Dynetics will deliver a comprehensive set of hardware and support systems associated with IFPC Inc 2. These include Enduring Shield launcher systems, retrofit prototype launchers, and sealed all-up-round (AUR) magazines designed to enable rapid reloading while enhancing safety for munitions handlers.
The contract also covers soldier training systems, including weight-representative training devices, as well as initial spare parts, contractor-provided logistics support, and engineering services. These elements are intended to support both operational deployment and long-term sustainment of the system.
System Design and Operational Role
The IFPC Inc 2 is a mobile, ground-based air defense system developed to provide 360-degree protection for fixed and semi-fixed sites, forward operating bases, and maneuvering forces. It is designed to address a capability gap within the Army’s layered air and missile defense architecture, operating between short-range point-defense systems and higher-tier platforms such as Patriot Air Defense System and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense.
The system is capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting a range of aerial threats, including subsonic and supersonic cruise missiles, Group 2 and Group 3 unmanned aerial systems, and rockets, artillery, and mortars.
The IFPC Inc 2 launcher, known as Enduring Shield, features a modular open-systems architecture that allows integration with the Army’s Integrated Battle Command System and the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel sensor. This architecture enables coordinated engagement across a networked battlespace and supports future integration of additional interceptor types.
Currently, the system employs the AIM-9X Sidewinder as its primary interceptor, housed within sealed AUR magazines. The launcher is palletized for deployment on compatible logistics vehicles, enabling flexible mobility and rapid emplacement.
Program Background and Development Timeline
Dynetics has served as the prime contractor for IFPC Inc 2 under the Army’s Program Executive Office Missiles and Space since the program’s early development phases.
The company’s involvement began with a 2021 prototype Other Transaction Authority agreement valued at approximately $237 million. That effort included the development of 16 launcher prototypes, 60 interceptors, and associated AUR magazines.
Dynetics delivered the first fieldable prototype launchers to the U.S. Army in December 2023. Following integration and testing, the system successfully conducted live-fire intercepts against cruise missile and unmanned aerial system targets in September 2024.
Subsequent contract activity included a $264.6 million award in July 2025 and a $92.1 million modification in September 2025, further advancing system development and pre-production efforts.
Production Strategy and Broader Contract Framework
The April 2026 award forms part of a larger undefinitized Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract granted to Dynetics in November 2024, with a ceiling value of up to $4.1 billion. This overarching contract supports low-rate initial production, full-rate production, and associated support services.
The initial task order under that IDIQ included procurement of 18 IFPC Inc 2 launchers, with a not-to-exceed value of $204 million and $99 million obligated at the time of award.
The program’s long-term plan предусматривает fielding up to nine battalions, with the first unit scheduled for deployment in fiscal year 2026. Initial operational units are intended to support Guam Defense System requirements and broader priorities within U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Ongoing Fielding and Capability Expansion
The fiscal year 2026 production contract advances the transition of IFPC Inc 2 into sustained full-rate production while expanding training and logistics infrastructure required for operational deployment.
While the Army has not disclosed the exact number of launcher systems or interceptor quantities included in this specific production order, the listed deliverables indicate continued scaling of both operational capability and support systems.
IFPC Inc 2 remains the Army’s selected solution for this layer of air defense following competitive evaluation, and its modular design is expected to accommodate future interceptor integration as threat requirements evolve.
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