Stories
US Defense Firm Anduril Launches Steelfin Interceptor to Destroy Cheap Drone Swarms
- •US defense tech company Anduril has unveiled the 'Steelfin' interceptor missile to counter cheap drone swarms and missile attacks.
- •The Steelfin missile is claimed to be about three times cheaper than America's modern Patriot PAC-3 MSE missile.
- •It features a two-stage modular design that enables rapid mass production and lower manufacturing costs.
- •The interceptor is capable of achieving supersonic to hypersonic speeds ranging from 1,235 KMPH to 4,900 KMPH.
- •Live flight testing is scheduled for 2027, with full-rate mass production expected by late 2028 or early 2029.
Key Questions Answered
Steelfin is a surface-to-air interceptor missile family introduced by the US defense tech company Anduril Industries to counter aerial threats like drone swarms, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. It features a modular design with a replaceable solid rocket booster and claims to be about three times cheaper than the Patriot PAC-3 MSE missile.
Depending on its booster configuration, the Steelfin interceptor travels at supersonic to hypersonic speeds ranging from 1,235 KMPH to over 4,900 KMPH, allowing it to rapidly target and neutralize enemy drone swarms and incoming missiles.
Anduril has completed initial ballistic tests for the Steelfin missile, with live flight testing of various variants scheduled for 2027. Full-rate mass production is expected to begin by the end of 2028 or early 2029 if all tests are successful.
