BlueHalo’s FE-1 Low-Cost Surface-To-Air Missile Fired For First Time

BlueHalo has, for the first time, launched its Freedom Eagle-1 (FE-1) missile, being developed for the U.S. Army’s Next-Gen Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) program. The new missile, intended to be relatively cheap to procure and able to be built rapidly in volume, is part of a new multi-pronged Army effort to better meet the proliferating drone threat head-on.

The successful live-fire demonstration of the FE-1 Controlled Test Vehicle (CTV) was only recently announced but took place from Jan. 16-18 this year, at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. It was conducted as part of the Next-Generation C-UAS Missile (NGCM) program, which aims to ramp up America’s munitions industrial base to meet rapidly evolving aerial threats, specifically drones.

A test launch of an FE-1 Controlled Test Vehicle (CTV) at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. BlueHalo screencap

“In light of recent global events, including activities in Europe, the Red Sea, and Taiwan, we’re taking a proactive stance — increasing internal investments to advance our FE-1 system and leaning in to meet the demand signal on an expedited timeline,” said Jonathan Moneymaker, BlueHalo chief executive officer.

The CTV live-fire demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground involved three missile test flights. “In each of the three tests, FE-1 launched successfully and performed its flight as planned, affirming BlueHalo’s commitment to a rapid development schedule. The team collected video, system, and sensor data logs, radar tracks, and RF diagnostics data from each flight test to evaluate the missile’s guidance, navigation, and control systems and analyze aerodynamic models to drive down the significant technical risks associated with the program,” the company said.

A close-up showing the front end of an FE-1 missile. BlueHalo screencap BlueHalo screencap

The FE-1 launcher used for the Yuma tests was mounted on a flatbed trailer and was a simple cage-like construction, for a single missile, apparently intended only as a test rig. In the past, BlueHalo presented at least one concept for a four-round box-type launcher mounted on a pedestal atop a Stryker 8×8 wheeled armored fighting vehicle. This application, as well as a ship-based launcher (at around the 1:05 mark) are seen in the video below:

In keeping with its ambition of getting production-ready missiles into operational service sooner rather than later, the development of the FE-1 to date has been rapid.

An FE-1 Controlled Test Vehicle (CTV) departs the launcher during tests from Jan. 16-18 this year, at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. BlueHalo screencap

In June of last year, BlueHalo announced that it had been selected as one of two vendors chosen to continue development of the NGCM by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (CCDC AvMC) Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium (AMTC).

Just two months later, the company announced the completion of multiple rounds of testing for the FE-1 low-cost effector, including the successful firing of its dual-thrust, solid-fuel rocket motor.

As of last December, BlueHalo had completed warhead detonation testing, which provided data on penetration depths, velocities, impacts, and panel fragmentation patterns.

Overall, it took BlueHalo 107 days to go from “paper design to first flight,” the company says.

The next step is planned to include a customer live-fire demonstration in the third quarter of this year.

“It’s clear that the new administration wants middle-tier acquisition going faster and fielding technology quicker,” explained Moneymaker. “Additionally, Congress is supportive of additional effectors to get longer range, at higher altitudes, against a threat that is evolving faster than we can keep pace with current systems. We’re moving at the speed necessary to meet the need, even if it requires our own internal funding to make it happen.”

Another view of an FE-1 during the live-fire demonstration earlier this year. BlueHalo screencap

The FE-1 is specifically designed to counter larger drones, in Group 3 and above. The U.S. military defines Group 3 drones as weighing between 55 and 1,320 pounds, being able to fly at altitudes between 3,500 and 18,000 feet, and having top speeds of between 100 and 250 knots.

To defeat threats such as these, the FE-1 is intended to have improved maneuverability, range, and rapid launch capabilities compared with current systems.

As well as drones, the FE-1 is intended to defeat various other “larger air threats,” and to be integrated with existing infrastructure and command and control (C2) systems.

NGCM is one of at least four U.S. Army counter-drone-related competitions that are now underway, and which also include efforts to field a handheld C-UAS system for soldiers in combat, as well as a counter-drone radar.

As well as BlueHalo, Raytheon was selected as a vendor for NGCM development, for which it’s preparing its Coyote.

Yet more contenders could still emerge, however.

“There are other companies out there that are working on interceptors for a counter-UAS application that might actually also have growth of potential to intercept … large caliber rockets, as well as potentially cruise missiles,” Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano, the Army’s program executive officer for missiles and space, said in August of last year.

While Raytheon is well established in the field, BlueHalo is a relative upstart, but it is currently carving a niche as a specialist in innovative C-UAS solutions.

These also include directed-energy weapons, like the company’s LOCUST laser weapon system — which you can read more about here. Meanwhile, the BlueHalo SkyView system provides for autonomous detection and precision tracking of small drones, using radio-frequency (RF) technology. Titan, another RF-based C-UAS solution from the same company, can detect, track, and force drones to safely land without disrupting nearby communications or electronics.

Screen captures showing quadcopter-type drones being destroyed by the LOCUST mounted on a Stryker armored fighting vehicle during testing. Leonardo DRS capture

As we have discussed many times in the past, the threats posed by drones, including weaponized commercial types, are by no means new.

Nevertheless, the conflict in Ukraine has prompted a much wider rethink of C-UAS capabilities and how best to combat the various tiers of drones that might be operated by adversaries now and in the future. In particular, the requirement to be able to defend critical fixed infrastructure has been repeatedly demonstrated, most prominently by relentless Russian attacks on Ukraine using Shahed/Geran series long-range one-way attack drones. At the same time, there is a clear need to protect tanks and other armored vehicles against drones, especially highly maneuverable first-person view (FPV) kamikaze types.

A new air defense missile from a U.S. manufacturer is far from an everyday occurrence, making the emergence of the FE-1 notable in itself. At the same time, it is indicative of growing Army efforts to dramatically expand its air defense and counter-drone capabilities and capacity. Time will tell whether the Freedom Eagle-1 will also be a part of that future ecosystem.

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