US unveils half-price alternative to Patriot PAC-3 missiles
Anduril unveils Steelfin air defense missile (photo: Getty Images)
US company Anduril has unveiled a new family of Steelfin surface-to-air missiles as a cheaper alternative to the PAC-3 interceptors used by the Patriot air defense system.
The Steelfin design features two stages, with specifications adaptable to specific combat missions. Different missile variants will share standardized components, simplifying their development and production.
Anduril emphasizes that Steelfin was designed from the outset to adapt quickly to new requirements without extensive upgrades to the entire base design, a process that could take several years.
The missile's first stage can be equipped with different solid-fuel boosters. The choice will depend on the required engagement range, flight performance, and launch method.
The second stage intercepts the target. All Steelfin variants share a common design foundation, including the body, avionics, software, flight control system, and interfaces. At the same time, the missiles can be fitted with different guidance seekers and additional components to meet specific mission requirements.
Anduril cites a potentially 50% lower cost than modern interceptors in the same class as a key advantage of the new missile family. However, the company has not yet disclosed the exact price of the missiles.
The company plans to produce different Steelfin variants on a single assembly line using shared equipment and standardized parts. This approach is intended to make the manufacturing process more flexible.
The company said it initially expects to produce several thousand Steelfin missiles across different variants each year. Production volumes can later be adjusted according to customer demand.
Steelfin missiles are reportedly compatible with several existing launch systems, including the M903A2 launcher used by the Patriot air defense system, the Mk 41 shipborne vertical launch system, and the Typhon ground-based missile system.
The new missile featuring standardized stages (photo: anduril.com)
Anduril says it has already completed ballistic tests using experimental missiles. Flight testing of various Steelfin variants is scheduled to begin in 2027.
