The US Army announced the deployment of the IFPC Inc 2 short-range air defence system in the Republic of Korea during the Freedom Shield 2026 exercise.
The Eighth Army, taking part in the Freedom Shield 2026 exercise held in the ROK, has deployed the US Army’s newest short-range air defence system, IFPC Inc 2, integrated with the IBCS command system.
IFPC Inc 2 is optimised for short-range and low-altitude defence of fixed sites against cruise missiles, UAVs, and aircraft. The system being produced by Leidos is armed with AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles with IIR guidance. Each palletised launcher can carry up to 18 missiles. IFPC Inc 2 is important for the US Army as a gap-filler with missiles more capable than FIM-92 Stinger while remaining less costly compared to MIM-104 Patriot assigned for more strategic uses.
In addition to AIM-9X, a new missile is being developed by Lockheed Martin as an alternative, if not a replacement. Lockheed Martin displayed a missile that appears to be based on the shelved CUDA design that incorporates hit-to-kill with thruster assist, a higher fuel fraction, and an RF seeker with the removal of the warhead.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
