The U.S. Air Force has launched the Counter-Air Missile Program (CAMP), signaling a strategic shift towards developing rapidly producible and cost-effective anti-air munitions.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Armament Directorate manages this new endeavor. It aims to acquire thousands of new missiles at a target cost of approximately $500,000 per unit. The program emphasizes modularity, open systems, and digital-first development to accelerate deployment and lower expenses. This reflects a broader strategy prioritizing widespread accessibility over highly specialized, costly individual weapons systems.
CAMP aims to develop a new anti-air missile with a strict per-munition cost target of around $500,000. It seeks to procure thousands of these weapons, targeting an annual production rate of at least 1,000 munitions once full-rate production begins. This decision reflects the service’s intention to “trade exquisite capabilities for affordability and producibility,” a sentiment the program’s presolicitation documents on Sam.gov articulate.
Beyond cost, the program emphasizes open systems, modular architectures, and digital-first development methodologies. This approach seeks to foster rapid innovation and adaptability. The initial two-year Phase 1 of CAMP will focus on developing and demonstrating a ground-launched prototype. This ground-based initiative will serve as a “risk reduction effort expediting missile design maturation and evaluation for future affordable air-to-air missile capabilities,” the Sam.gov presolicitation states.
Currently in its conceptual phase, the Directorate has issued a call for white papers to gather industry insights. Mikayla Easley reported for DefenseScoop on November 11, 2025, that “The Air Force is seeking industry’s ideas on a potential new project to develop an anti-air missile that can be rapidly produced for around $500,000 per munition.” Contractors have until December 2 to submit their proposals.
This initiative underscores a critical pivot in military procurement, prioritizing widespread accessibility and rapid replenishment over highly specialized and costly individual weapons systems.