On Monday, May 11, 2026, the U.S. company Lockheed Martin announced that it had conducted another test of its QuadStar prototype, a new surface-to-air missile being offered to the U.S. Army under the Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) program as a successor to the FIM-92 Stinger system.
Photos and image: Lockheed Martin
As part of the Seeker Characterization Flight Test (SCFT), the QuadStar missile was launched from a Command Launch Assembly (CLA) on a standard trajectory, demonstrating seeker performance at a range exceeding the capabilities of Stinger.
The Lockheed Martin test team aimed to verify the seeker’s ability to capture imagery, process signals inside the missile, and track the target. The test confirmed the performance of the CLA, critical system functionality, the innovative and affordable seeker technology, and the performance of the QuadStar missile itself.
“Our team’s shared mission, innovative approach and agility were essential to achieving this milestone,” said Randy Crites, vice president, Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs. “The successful SCFT demonstrates we remain on course to deliver a next-generation interceptor that will defend our warfighters and allies well into the future.”
“Completing the seeker characterization in under six months highlights the speed, flexibility and drive the Lockheed Martin team brings to this customer,” said Chris Murphy, business development lead, Lockheed Martin NGSRI. “We remain committed to delivering highly capable, readily manufacturable and affordable solutions that meet the Army’s immediate and future needs.”
It should be recalled that the first test of the missile at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico was reported on January 13 this year, under an OTA contract from September 2023. The missile is to use advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The manufacturer emphasizes that QuadStar is intended to be highly effective against unmanned aerial systems, helicopters, and crewed aircraft. In many cases, Lockheed Martin’s offering more than doubles the capabilities of the legacy FIM-92 Stinger system.
NGSRI
Lockheed Martin’s competitor in the NGSRI program is RTX, the original manufacturer of the FIM-92 Stinger. On February 18, 2025, the company reported that it had completed a series of ten successful tests of its prototype, while on February 2 this year it announced a ballistic, unpowered flight test.
It should be recalled that the FIM-92 Stinger systems returned to favor in January 2018 as part of an ongoing U.S. Army reform. The systems were taken out of storage and returned to frontline units, where previously they had been maintained in relatively small numbers, and operator training was resumed. This was connected with an overall change in the doctrine for the use of U.S. forces, linked to a shift in operational priorities from conflicts with insurgent forces to a potential war with a peer state such as Russia or China. Both MANPADS and vehicle-mounted AN/TWQ-1 Avenger systems were restored.
The latest production contract for the FIM-92 Stinger was signed on September 24, 2025. The system uses Stinger Block I missiles, also designated Stinger Reprogrammable Microprocessor.
On November 10, 2020, the U.S. Army issued its first Request for Information (RFI) under the program for a successor to these systems, which was initially referred to simply as MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense System). The plan is to procure at least 10,000 missiles together with launchers, sighting systems, and training systems; previously, 8,000 missiles had been planned — editor’s note.
On March 28, 2022, the SHIELD (Short and Intermediate Effectors for Layered Defense) program office issued another RFI on the matter, while at the same time assigning it the designation Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Increment 3. However, this covers only systems mounted on IM-SHORAD (Interim Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense) short-range air-defense vehicles based on the ICV Stryker A1 wheeled armored personnel carrier chassis, which were named Sgt Stout on June 15, 2024.
Preliminary tactical and technical requirements for the new surface-to-air missile were published at the time. These include the ability to engage helicopters, aircraft, and Class 2 and 3 unmanned aerial systems: Class 2: weight of 9.5-35 kg, ceiling below 1,070 m, speed below 463 km/h; Class 3: weight below 600 kg, ceiling below 5,500 m, speed below 463 km/h. The missile is therefore to have capabilities comparable to or better than those of Stinger, a proximity fuze, and improved detection, targeting, and guidance capabilities compared with the current system. It must also be compatible with the currently used SUVL (Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher) and be ready for immediate use as an all-up round.
Interestingly, the U.S. Army is also seeking a smaller, high-performance surface-to-air missile for the new Enduring Shield air-defense launchers under the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept (IFPC Inc 2-I) program.
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