US’ counter-drone missiles to become deadlier, get extended range with ramjet propulsion

A Virginia-based company is set to develop next-generation air-breathing propulsion for the U.S. Army. With this, Northrop Grumman aims to address the evolving challenges of detecting and defeating unmanned aerial systems at extended ranges.

The company will develop and integrate solid fuel ramjet propulsion technology for integration into XRC missile prototypes under this $18.8 million contract with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center.

Evolution of unmanned aerial threats demands innovative solutions

“The rapid evolution of unmanned aerial threats demands innovative solutions,” said Erik Buice, vice president, missile products, Northrop Grumman.

“By aligning the Army’s vision for next-generation air defense with our advanced propulsion expertise, we’re delivering capability that engages targets farther away, protects mobile forces and strengthens layered defense against emerging aerial threats.”

Unlike solid rocket motors, which utilize propellant containing fuel and a chemical oxidizer, solid fuel ramjets use atmospheric oxygen as the oxidizer for the fuel during flight, freeing internal volume for additional fuel.

The result is a more efficient propulsion system that delivers greater range and energy, enabling engagement of highly maneuverable aerial threats at safer distances from protected forces. The development will include a comprehensive ground and flight test campaign to validate the design and production processes. The resulting design will support scalable, cost-effective manufacturing to meet urgent defense requirements quickly.

The XRC program focuses on enhancing the performance of the Army’s Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) system — designed to protect maneuvering forces from low-altitude aerial threats. Additionally, the system’s compatibility with the Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher improves defense against advanced unmanned aerial systems as well as traditional fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, according to a press release.

Flight test campaign to validate design and production processes

The development will include a comprehensive ground and flight test campaign to validate the design and production processes. The resulting design will support scalable, cost-effective manufacturing to meet urgent defense requirements quickly.

With adversaries increasingly deploying sophisticated unmanned systems, the XRC program’s extended-range capabilities is a vital element within the Army’s layered air defense strategy. Northrop Grumman’s deep involvement in the Army’s broader counter-UAS ecosystem also includes providing the foundational command-and-control network, kinetic options and propulsion expertise leveraged by advanced interceptor systems, as per the release.

The company also revealed that it’s advancing Raid Hunter, the 50mm Gun-Based Air Defense system delivering a cost-effective, high-engagement-capacity solution designed to defeat mass, mixed air raids and enhance protection of maneuver forces and critical infrastructure within a layered CUAS defense framework.

Raid Hunter combines proven Chain Gun® technology, precision‑guided 50mm ammunition and a networked, interoperable system controller to deliver powerful protection against high-volume, mixed-threat aerial raids. It is designed to defeat a range of aerial threats including high‑priority cruise missile threats, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and other advanced threats.