Pictured is a U.S. Navy photo of a Standard Missile-3 launch from the USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) on May 20, 2025 during the At-Sea Demonstration/ Formidable Shield 2025 exercise in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Navy is starting to pursue accelerated development and prototyping for a new lower cost anti-air interceptor, dubbed the Naval Affordable Interceptor Prototype, according to a new Request for White Papers (RFWP). Released via the National Security Prototype to Production Consortium (NSPPC), the Naval Affordable Interceptor Prototype RFWP announcement said the Navy seeks “mature, affordable, missile-based air-defense interceptor solutions that can be rapidly adapted for maritime employment and produced at scale.” This competition is focused on countering the proliferation of…