Boeing unveils Ultra Low-Cost Seeker built from off-the-shelf parts

Published Aug 11, 06:39 PM UTC

Boeing revealed its Ultra Low-Cost Seeker (ULCS) at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama. The active radar seeker is built largely from commercial off-the-shelf parts to reduce cost, which Boeing argues limits how many guided weapons the military can buy. The seeker is designed for reuse across air and missile defense interceptors, guided bombs, and cruise missiles. Boeing conducted several tests earlier in the summer, including chamber tests, airborne tracking from a Beechcraft 1900, ground-based drone tracking at Spaceport America, and a rocket launch test against a drone reflector. The seeker survived acceleration and vibration and successfully detected and tracked targets. Boeing aims to share a common sensor architecture across programs, though further flight tests are planned for 2027. Competitor Lockheed Martin also announced a modular seeker line, Strigo, on August 10.