Shortly after completing a successful test firing of a new ground-based air defense system, Leidos [LDOS] on Wednesday delivered the first set of Enduring Shield launchers to the Army, which will begin the developmental test program in January.
On Monday, Leidos Dynetics fired a test AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range missile from its Enduring Shield launcher, validating the functionality of the system. Now the Army will begin the development test program that will lead to fight-testing in the second quarter of 2024 and an operational assessment expected in the third quarter.
Enduring Shield is being developed under the Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 program. Leidos will deliver 16 launchers under a prototype contract the company won in 2021, all of which are fieldable if the Army chooses to use them in operations.
Once an operational assessment is completed, a formal initial operational test and evaluation phase is planned for fiscal year 2025.