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Updated June 27, 2024
The U.S. Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC)
System
Background
of FY2023. The Army planned to make a Milestone C
Protecting high-value military sites against enemy cruise
Decision (decision to transition to procurement) in the
missile (CM), unmanned aerial system (UAS), and rocket,
second quarter of FY2024 and field the first IFPC
artillery, and mortar (RAM) attacks has long been an
Increment 2 battalion by FY2026.
important consideration in protecting military forces.
According to the U.S. Army, the Indirect Fire Protection
Figure 1. IFPC Increment 2 Prototype
Capability (IFPC) System “is a mobile, ground-based
weapon system designed to defeat cruise missiles (CM),
unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and rocket, artillery, and
mortars (RAM).” IFPC is to consist of a launcher and
interceptors and is intended to “protect critical fixed- or
semi-fixed assets,” and “bridge the gap between short-range
air defense (SHORAD) systems, the Patriot air and missile
defense system, and the Terminal High Altitude Area
Defense (THAAD) system.”
Origins of the IFPC Program
The Army initiated the IFPC program, known as IFPC
Increment 1, in 2004. Concerned with the pace and
direction of the Army’s counter RAM (C-RAM)
development, some in Congress expressed an interest in
Source: IFPC Increment 2 Prototype: https://asc.army.mil/web/
acquiring Israel’s Iron Dome C-RAM system as an interim
portfolio-item/ms-ifpc_inc_2-i/.
solution. In both the FY2019 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) (P.L. 115-232) and the FY2019
Other IFPC Variants
Department of Defense Appropriations Act (P.L. 115-245),
The Army is presently developing three IFPC variants, the
Congress directed the Army to deploy four batteries—two
Increment 2 Interceptor variant, the High Energy Laser
in 2020 and two in 2023—of a medium-range air defense
(HEL) variant (Figure 2), and the High-Power Microwave
system to counter cruise missiles and other threats. In
(HPM) variant (Figure 3). Each variant is in a different
response to this mandate, the Army selected Iron Dome as
stage of development, and variants are intended to operate
providing “the best value to the Army based on its
in a complementary manner.
schedule, cost per kill, magazine depth, and capability
against specified threats.” Because of difficulties
IFPC Increment 2 Interceptor Variant
integrating the first two Iron Dome batteries into existing
The interceptor variant is to utilize an open architecture
and planned Army air and missile defense command and
design to enable future missile integration. Reportedly,
control architecture, the FY2021 NDAA (P.L. 116-283)
Increment 2 can employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile
waived the requirement for the final two Iron Dome
and the AGM-114L Longbow variant of the Hellfire
batteries. The decision not to adopt Iron Dome reportedly
missile. The Army is also testing the Israeli Tamir missile
served as the basis for the Army initiating the IFPC
used by Israel’s Iron Dome system.
Increment 2 program.
November 2023 IFPC Program Delay
IFPC Increment 2
Reportedly, the IFPC Increment 2 program is facing a delay
On September 24, 2021, the Army announced “the award of
of at least eight months and possibly a year attributed to
a three-year prototype Other Transaction Authority
“aggressive activity to support fielding in Guam by 2027.”
Agreement (OTA) to Dynetics (a subsidiary of Leidos) for
Based on new plans, Initial Operational Test and Evaluation
the development and delivery of 16 launcher prototypes, 60
(OT&E), originally planned for FY2025, will now begin in
interceptors, and associated all-up-round magazines for the
FY2026. Despite the delay, the Army reportedly intends to
Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2” (Figure 1).
meet its 2027 Guam fielding goal.
The OTA was valued at approximately $237.38 million
over two and a half years. Plans called for prototype
A New Increment 2 Interceptor Variant
development in Huntsville, AL, and Tucson, AZ, with
Reportedly, the Army is considering developing a second
deliveries to support testing beginning in the fourth quarter
interceptor for IFPC Increment 2, with one official noting,
of FY2022. The first IFPC Increment 2 combat-capable
“It is now clearer that the service needs a second interceptor
battery was to be available to the Army in the fourth quarter
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The U.S. Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) System
that is more capable against lower flying, supersonic cruise
delivered the last two IFPC-HPM systems to the Army,
missiles.” While it had been suggested that the Norwegian
with Epirus further noting the systems had completed new
Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) could
equipment training and engineering developmental testing.
help fill the aforementioned capability gap with the AIM-
120D Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile, the
FY2025 IFPC Budgetary Information
Army believes it is not an option, as NASAMS has a
magazine depth of six rounds. Instead, the Army reportedly
Table 1. FY2025 IFPC Budget Request
envisions “an AIM-120D-like capability, but with smaller
Total Request
rounds that fit inside an IFPC Increment 2 launcher holding
Funding Category
($M)
18 interceptors.” If the Army pursues a second interceptor,
Procurement - IFPC
$657.581
development would continue through 2029 to 2030 before
Increment 2-1
low-rate initial production.
Quantity - 44
RDT&E - IFPC HEL
$31.643
IFPC High Energy Laser (HEL)
RDT&E - IFPC HPM
$4.031
Figure 2. Notional IFPC High Energy Laser (HEL)
Sources: Procurement: Department of Defense FY2025 Budget
Estimates, March 2024, Army Justification Book Volume 1 of 1,
Missile Procurement, p. 1-49. RDT&E: Department of Defense Fiscal
Year (FY) 2025 Budget Estimates, March 2024, Research,
Development, Test & Evaluation, RDT&E−Volume 2a of 2, Budget
Activity 4a, p. 318.
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation;
$M = U.S. dol ars in mil ions.
IFPC HEL Funding Reduction
FY2024 Army budget documents and reports note the
Army plans to cut approximately $4.8 billion from planned
IFPC HEL future spending, which the Army attributed to
“changing priorities.”
The FY2025 IFPC HEL budget
Source: Notional IFPC High Energy Laser (HEL):
request is a $327 million reduction compared with the
https://www.army.mil/article/233346/
Army’s forecast in the FY2024 budge. Future funding is
scaling_up_army_advances_300kw_class_laser_prototype.
eliminated starting in FY2026, suggesting almost $4.5
billion is to be redirected to higher-priority needs. While the
IFPC HEL is being designed by Dynetics to protect critical
Army says it remains committed to HELs, it is reportedly
fixed- or semi-fixed assets against CMs, UASs, and RAMs
adopting a “buy-try-decide strategy” whereby the Army
using a laser as opposed to interceptor missiles. The Army
“purchases a small number of prototypes and conducts
planned to mount four operational 300 kilowatt (kW)-class
thorough testing before proceeding with additional
IFPC HEL prototypes onto tactical vehicles by FY2024. If
investments.”
testing proved successful, the Army would transition the
IFPC HEL to a Program of Record in FY2025.
Considerations for Congress
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
IFPC High Power Microwave (HPM)
following:
Figure 3. IFPC High Power Microwave (HPM)
• To what extent would IFPC units be expected to protect
the other services’ fixed or semi-fixed sites such as Air
Force air bases, Navy port facilities, or Marine Corps
sites?
• According to a February 2024 white paper, Army Force
Structure Transformation, the Army plans to invest in
four additional IFPC battalions. What is the Army’s
timeline for establishing the four new battalions and
where will the battalions be stationed?
• While the Army has said that the significant reduction in
current and future IFPC HEL funding was attributed to
“changing priorities,” did IFPC HEL developmental
Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2023/01/us-army-selects-
challenges play a factor in the Army’s decision? If so,
epirus-leonidas-for-high-power-microwave-initiative/.
what are these challenges and does the Army have
According to the Army, the IFPC HPM is intended to
future plans to address them?
provide short-range protection for fixed and semi-fixed
• Does the Army plan to establish IFPC units in the Army
sites against small UAS (weighing about 55 pounds or less)
National Guard? If so, what is the fielding timeline and
swarm attacks. In January 2023, the Army reportedly
basing plan for the units?
awarded a $66.1 million contract to Epirus to deliver four
high-powered microwave prototypes to the Army in
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
FY2024 for testing. Reportedly on May 15, 2024, Epirus
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The U.S. Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) System
IF12421
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