U.S. announces contract for full-rate production of new MRIC air defense system for U.S. Marine Corps.

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on July 24, 2025, Raytheon Missiles and Defense has been awarded a $32,519,000 firm-fixed-price undefinitized contract action to support the Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) program for the U.S. Marine Corps. The contract provides for the procurement of 44 sets of long lead items (LLIs) to enable full-rate production of the MRIC system. It also includes additional quantities of LLIs required for spare parts and the modernization of previously delivered prototype systems.
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Medium Range Intercept Capability system displayed at General Raymond G Davis Center Marine Corps Base Quantico January 12 2024. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The MRIC (Medium-Range Intercept Capability) is a mobile and modular air defense system developed specifically for the U.S. Marine Corps to provide a medium-range intercept capability against a wide array of aerial threats. Designed to operate in expeditionary and contested environments, MRIC fills a critical capability gap between short-range systems like the Stinger missile and long-range assets such as Patriot. The system is capable of intercepting cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and indirect fire threats such as rockets, artillery shells, and mortars.

The architecture of MRIC is built on a combination of proven U.S. and Israeli technologies. It integrates the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) and the Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) with the Tamir interceptor and a mobile launcher platform developed jointly by RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon. Raytheon serves as the prime contractor for the program, ensuring full integration of the U.S. command-and-control network with the Iron Dome-based kinetic components. The Tamir interceptor, operationally validated through thousands of successful real-world engagements, offers a highly effective solution against complex aerial threats, including low-RCS cruise missiles and massed rocket attacks.

In May 2022, a critical live-fire test conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps demonstrated the MRIC’s ability to intercept targets representing cruise missile threats. The event marked a significant technical milestone for the program, successfully validating the system’s end-to-end performance and interoperability between U.S. radar and command systems with Israeli-developed launcher and interceptor technologies. This initial test, the first in a planned series, evaluated MRIC’s combat effectiveness and resilience under realistic and high-threat conditions. It also confirmed the system’s ability to provide precision engagement in a fully networked, mobile configuration.

The current contract award supports the MRIC program’s transition from prototype validation to production readiness. The acquisition of LLIs ensures uninterrupted production timelines and supports the scaling of manufacturing processes needed to meet Marine Corps deployment objectives. It also enables upgrades to early prototype systems to bring them in line with the production standard configuration.

As a centerpiece of the Marine Corps' Force Design 2030 initiative, MRIC enhances the Corps' ability to operate with agility and survivability in increasingly complex threat environments. Its expeditionary design and proven intercept capabilities position it as a key component in a layered air defense strategy tailored for distributed maritime operations. With this latest contract, the Department of Defense reinforces its commitment to fielding advanced air defense solutions that protect forward-deployed forces and counter evolving aerial threats posed by near-peer adversaries.