iRocket secures U.S. Army contract to expand Hydra-70 guided rocket production for counter-drone missions
AI Analysis
iRocket has secured a U.S. Army contract, valued between $30-$150 million, to expand production of laser-guided Hydra-70 rockets for counter-drone missions. The initiative aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive missiles like the HELLFIRE in engaging low-cost drone threats, particularly highlighted by ongoing operations in Iran. iRocket will leverage advanced manufacturing techniques ('Factory ONE of the Future') to rapidly scale production.
Key Takeaways
- Contract Value: $30 - $150 million
- Contractor: Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. (iRocket)
- System: Laser-guided Hydra-70 rockets
- Operational Context: Addressing drone threats in Iran and the need for affordable countermeasures.
- Cost Comparison: Hydra-70 (modified) significantly cheaper than HELLFIRE missiles ($150k-$200k per unit).
- Manufacturing: iRocket is employing automation and robotics to accelerate production.
Why It Matters
This contract signals a shift in U.S. Army strategy towards more affordable and scalable counter-UAS solutions. The increasing use of low-cost drones by adversaries necessitates a response that doesn't deplete stockpiles of expensive interceptors. iRocket's approach, if successful, could become a model for addressing asymmetric threats in future conflicts.
iRocket secures U.S. Army contract to expand Hydra-70 guided rocket production for counter-drone missions
iRocket secures U.S. Army contract to expand Hydra-70 guided rocket production for counter-drone missions
By Martin Chomsky (Defence Industry Europe)
Air| June 8, 2026
Photo: iRocket.
Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc., known as iRocket, said it has been selected for a U.S. Army Hydra-70 Guided Rocket Components contract. The award, from Army PAE Fires / PdM ARSGM, is valued between $30 million and $150 million.
The contract will support production of systems designed to counter growing numbers of low-cost aerial threats. iRocket said the award comes as U.S. forces face sustained drone attacks in ongoing operations in Iran, underscoring the need for affordable and rapidly deployable munitions.
The contract’s core objective is to bridge the gap between expensive HELLFIRE missiles and cheap unguided rockets. iRocket said HELLFIRE missiles cost about $150,000 to $200,000 per unit.
The effort will transform Hydra-70 rockets into laser-guided precision missiles. The company said the modified Hydra-70 rockets will become a critical munition for the U.S. Army’s expanding counter-UAS capability.
Recent conflicts have highlighted a widening gap between the weapons the United States relies on and the threats it faces, according to iRocket. In many cases, forces are required to use high-cost interceptors against inexpensive drones, creating an unsustainable cost dynamic and straining limited stockpiles.
iRocket said its Hydra-70 platform offers an effective counter-drone capability at a fraction of the cost. The company said the approach is designed to match the scale at which modern conflicts are being fought.
The company said its production strategy focuses on enabling that scale. Through its Factory ONE of the Future concept, iRocket is applying automation, robotics and digitally integrated production systems to accelerate manufacturing of guided rocket components and counter-UAS missile capabilities.
iRocket said the goal is not only to build better systems, but to produce them in the volumes and timelines required by modern warfighters. The company said this supports the U.S. Government’s demand for a more robust Hydra-70 rocket supply chain that can handle surge requirements and adapt to changing operational needs.
“This award reflects a vital shift in how modern conflicts are being fought and won. Our forces are facing increasingly asymmetric threats, where low-cost drones are being deployed at scale, and the traditional response model is no longer sustainable. At iRocket, we are focused on changing that equation – delivering precision-guided rocket capabilities that are not only effective, but affordable and produced at the speed and volume today’s operational environment demands,” said Asad Malik, CEO of iRocket.
The company said its production model is intended to reduce bottlenecks, shorten manufacturing cycles and enable rap