iRocket lands up to $150M U.S. Army contract to power next-generation counter-drone arsenal

(HAPPUAGE, NY, June 08, 2026) – Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. (iRocket) has today announced it has been selected by Army PAE Fires / PdM ARSGM for the Hydra-70 Guided Rocket Components contract, valued between $30 million and $150 million, to support the production of systems designed to counter the growing volume of low-cost aerial threats. The award comes at a critical moment, as U.S. forces confront sustained drone attacks in ongoing operations in Iran, underscoring the urgent need for affordable, rapidly deployable munitions.

The core objective of the contract is to bridge the gap between expensive HELLFIRE missiles ($150-200 thousand per unit) and cheap, unguided rockets by transforming Hydra-70 rockets into laser-guided, precision missiles, creating a more affordable and scalable “middle ground” munition. The modified Hydra-70 rockets will become a critical munition for the US Army’s growing counter-UAS capability.  

Recent conflicts have underscored a widening gap between the weapons the U.S. relies on and the threats it faces. In many cases, forces are compelled to use high-cost interceptors against inexpensive drones, creating an unsustainable cost dynamic while straining already limited stockpiles.

iRocket’s Hydra-70 platform offers a different path delivering effective counter-drone capability at a fraction of the cost, and at a scale aligned with how modern conflicts are being fought.

iRocket’s approach is focused on enabling that scale. Through its Factory ONE of the Future concept the company is applying automation, robotics, and digitally integrated production systems to accelerate the manufacturing of guided rocket components and C-UAS missile capabilities. The goal is not simply to build better systems – but to ensure they can be produced in the volumes and timelines required by the modern war-fighter. In doing so, iRocket is directly meeting the US Government’s demand to build a more robust supply chain for Hydra-70 rockets that is flexible enough to handle surge requirements and adapt to evolving operational needs.  

Asad Malik, CEO of iRocket, comments “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.”

The company’s production model is designed to reduce bottlenecks, shorten manufacturing cycles, and enable rapid scaling – addressing a core challenge in today’s defense industrial base: the inability to replenish critical munitions quickly enough to sustain operations or deter future conflict.

“Through our Factory ONE of the Future approach, we are rethinking how munitions are built, enabling a more agile, resilient supply chain that ensures war-fighters have access to the systems they need, when and where they need them, continues Malik. Our new facility is designed to produce one propellant every five minutes, putting us on track to manufacture up to 97,000 units annually and play a meaningful role in rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom.”

As demand for counter-drone capabilities continues to rise, the ability to field affordable systems and produce them at high rates is becoming central not only to battlefield effectiveness, but to deterrence itself.

photo courtesy iRocket