The programme aims to provide a new, advanced interceptor to protect the US against long-range ballistic missile threats
Lockheed Martin has conducted, in partnership with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), a digital All Up Round Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for its Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) programme. The company is committed to delivering NGI on an accelerated schedule.
The programme is part of the MDA’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system and aims to provide a new, advanced interceptor to protect the US against long-range ballistic missile threats.
During the review, the Missile Defense Agency assessed the NGI programme’s readiness and maturity to continue into the detailed design phase, confirming that Lockheed Martin’s solution continues to meet the missions’ requirements.
In particular, to conduct the PDR, the company used digital engineering and model-based engineering tools.
Other tests performed included validating the programme approach to sensing threats and Lockheed Martin’s flight computer ability to communicate to NGI subsystems. The program’s digital approach enables early and frequent hardware and software testing, anchoring the PDR with lab demonstrations of flight-like engineering hardware.
“I am proud of our team’s commitment to innovating with urgency to achieve expectations for this phase of the program,” said Sarah Hiza, vice president and general manager of Strategic and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin. “With this additional confidence in our NGI design through a week-long digital review with our MDA customer, we are on track to deliver the right solution to meet the needs of the nation.”
This PDR milestone means Lockheed Martin’s NGI program has progressed solidly in its design work. It will next begin procuring long-lead hardware to support the manufacturing of flight test vehicles.
The company’s NGI team will now move toward the Critical Design Review milestone in the third quarter of 2025, continuing to evaluate opportunities to accelerate the schedule. During this following review, the MDA will assess when flight testing can begin.
The first Lockheed Martin NGI is due to be delivered in 2027.
