The US Has Unveiled A Low-cost, Extra-atmospheric Interceptor To Destroy Ballistic Missiles
- 19.12.2025, 20:17
It can be used against the Nutshell.
California-based defense company Long Wall has unveiled Cyclops, a ground-based interceptor designed to destroy ballistic missiles in midcourse, reports New Voice.
The new product is designed to operate outside the Earth's atmosphere and uses the "one-hit kill" principle, destroying the target with a kinetic strike without the use of an explosive warhead.
The company notes that Cyclops was originally designed to be aimed at the missile defense system. This should solve one of the key problems of modern missile defense - the limited number of interceptors and their high cost. Recent conflicts have shown that massive missile salvos, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of launches, can overwhelm air and missile defense systems, while offensive missiles are often produced more quickly and cheaply than defensive assets.
Long Wall's plan is for Cyclops to provide what is known as "depth of ordnance" - the ability to defend for long periods of time thanks to the large number of interceptors available. The system was designed from the ground up with manufacturability in mind. It utilizes state-of-the-art computing platforms, autonomous control, optical sensors and propulsion systems, much of which comes from the high-volume commercial sector.
The key element of Cyclops is the extra-atmospheric kill vehicle (EKV), which destroys the target through kinetic energy. The company has already built the first EKV prototype and begun testing it, focusing on components suitable for scaling. The developers claim this will allow the interceptors to be produced in hundreds or even thousands of units.
The deployment involves a containerized launch system suitable for installation on land or aboard ships with minimal infrastructure. The launcher fits into a standard shipping container, simplifying logistics and speeding deployment. Long Wall notes that such launch systems could be considered costly in certain scenarios.
The company also plans to shorten development timelines through more frequent and cheaper testing, utilizing its own RSX liquid-propellant launch vehicle. Cyclops' manufacturing approach is based on modularity and the use of commercial equipment, particularly 3D printing and numerically controlled machine tools.
Long Wall emphasizes that Cyclops is an effort to change the approach to building and deploying missile defense systems in an increasingly missile threat environment where speed, scale of production and technological competition become critical.