U.S. Army Set to Unveil New Missile Defense Strategy by October 2025

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The U.S. Army is preparing to release a new missile defense strategy designed to guide its modernization plans through 2040. The updated approach, expected by October, aims to enhance the Army’s ability to counter increasingly complex missile and drone threats using integrated, high-speed technologies and joint coordination across domains.

Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, confirmed that the upcoming strategy will replace the 2018 version, which only extended through 2028. The revised plan will align with the Army’s multi-domain operations doctrine and is being developed jointly with the Army Futures Command, the Missile Defense Center of Excellence, the Air and Missile Defense Commands, and the Fires Center of Excellence.

A key focus of the strategy is to move beyond the outdated model of one-for-one interceptors and to embrace preemptive capabilities that can defeat threats before they launch. This includes accelerating the fielding of new technologies such as the Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), which is set to replace the legacy Patriot radar, and the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), which enables real-time coordination between radars and interceptors across vast operational areas.

The plan also incorporates lessons learned from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where adversaries used high-volume missile and drone barrages to overwhelm traditional defenses. In response, the Army is deploying LTAMDS and prototype Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) units to both the Indo-Pacific and European theaters for testing under live conditions.

A Government Accountability Office review has also recommended adopting advanced development tools like digital simulations and digital twins to streamline production and cut long-term costs.

The forthcoming strategy marks a major transition toward proactive, technology-driven defense. With new tools, integrated sensors, and improved response capabilities, the Army is aiming to secure the U.S. and its allies against fast-evolving threats well into the next decade.