US strengthens its air defense with IFPC system next-gen anti-drone and anti-rocket shield.

In an international context where aerial threats are evolving rapidly, the United States Department of Defense awarded on July 30, 2025, a new $264.6 million contract to Dynetics Inc., based in Huntsville, Alabama, to advance the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) weapon system. This system is designed to address a growing range of aerial threats, including drones, cruise missiles, and rocket attacks targeting U.S. and allied infrastructure.
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The Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) is a U.S. Army program aimed at protecting fixed and semi-fixed military sites against indirect aerial threats such as rockets, artillery shells, mortars (RAM), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and cruise missiles (Picture source: US DoD)

The contract, which combines fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee terms, is funded under the Army’s Fiscal Year 2025 research, development, testing, and evaluation budget. Over $127 million was obligated at the time of the award. Work will be carried out in Huntsville (Alabama), Dallastown (Pennsylvania), and Chanhassen (Minnesota), with completion expected by July 30, 2026. The contract is being managed by the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, also located in Alabama.

The Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) is a U.S. Army program aimed at protecting fixed and semi-fixed military sites against indirect aerial threats such as rockets, artillery shells, mortars (RAM), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and cruise missiles. These threats, often employed in asymmetric or saturation attacks, can bypass traditional defenses and require a tailored response. The IFPC is part of a layered air defense strategy, providing an intermediate layer between short-range systems like M-SHORAD and long-range platforms such as the Patriot. It addresses the need for flexibility, mobility, and responsiveness on complex operational theaters.

Designed as a modular architecture integrated into the Army’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), the IFPC enables real-time connectivity between radars, effectors, and command-and-control components. It supports various types of interceptors, including the Tamir missile (used in the Iron Dome system) and a modified version of the AIM-9X. The launcher system developed by Dynetics under the IFPC Inc 2 program allows for this adaptability, offering an evolutionary and interoperable platform compatible with allied forces. Ultimately, the IFPC is expected to become a key pillar of the Army’s future air and missile defense architecture, capable of keeping pace with the rapidly evolving threat landscape on the modern battlefield.

The IFPC holds a strategic place in the U.S. Army’s layered air defense doctrine. It is designed to protect forward operating bases and critical infrastructure from RAM-type indirect fire, drones, and cruise missiles. In November 2024, the U.S. Army had already entered into a major indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) agreement with Dynetics worth up to $4.1 billion for the IFPC Inc 2 program. That agreement covered low-rate initial production, full-rate production, and lifecycle support. A $204 million undefinitized contract action was issued under that framework, with $99 million immediately obligated.

The IFPC is designed to work in close coordination with the IBCS, the Army’s unified fire control network. This integration enhances real-time coordination between sensors and interceptors, significantly improving detection, tracking, and engagement of various aerial threats across broad operational zones. The IDIQ structure provides the Army with greater flexibility, allowing for faster acquisition timelines and adaptability to emerging threats. This model supports the agile delivery of next-generation defense systems, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness on the battlefield.

This new contract continues the Army’s investment in the IFPC Inc 2 program, which is expected to become a cornerstone of the Army’s future air and missile defense capabilities. As global demand grows for modular, mobile systems capable of countering drones and RAM threats, the U.S. is positioning the IFPC as a deployable and interoperable solution, fully integrable within multinational defense frameworks. Through this approach, Washington reaffirms its commitment to actively protecting its forces and allies against the most complex contemporary aerial threats.