Lockheed Martin achieves key milestone in RIG-360 development – company advances 360-degree missile communications.
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News Release, Grand Prairie, 05 August 2025: The Remote Interceptor Guidance – 360 (RIG-360) completed the first phase of the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) programme. This is a critical milestone as the Lockheed Martin and PEO Missiles and Space, Integrated Fires and Mission Command (IFMC) team work together to deliver the first RIG-360 units to the field.
“RIG-360 is a game-changing capability,” said Stu Chaffey, director of Integrated Air and Missile Defense Advanced Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “RIG-360’s capabilities will allow soldiers to use the best weapon available on the Integrated Battle Command System (ICBS) Integrated Fire Control Network (IFCN) to eliminate incoming threats.”
Why It Matters:
- The RIG-360 team completed the first Array Assembly officially moving the RIG-360 EMD programme into the second phase.
- The Array Assembly is one of three critical subsystems in the EMD programme.
- The Array Assembly is the most complex subsystem and acts as the communications hub for the RIG-360 that can send, receive and translate radio frequency data for beacon tracking.
RIG-360 is a missile communications device that enables 360-degree, in-flight communications for the Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 (PAC-3) Family of Missiles within the IBCS. RIG-360 will support PAC-3 engagements and advances IAMD goals of pairing any sensor with the best available weapon system within the US Army’s modern IAMD architecture.
What’s Next:
IFMC awarded the RIG-360 programme a $114M definitised contract on May 9, 2025, another big milestone for the new programme. This award reinforces IFMC’s commitment and support of the programme.
Lockheed Martin is currently building a dedicated RIG-360 EMD production facility in Grand Prairie, Texas. This facility features state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing tools and centralises personnel, process and equipment to drive speed, efficiency and innovation. The facility is expected to be completed in late 2026.
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