U.S. Marines on Guam have successfully test-fired the new Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) system during Exercise Valiant Shield, intercepting an aerial target on June 30, 2026. The MRIC represents the Corps' first medium-range air defense system since the divestment of the legacy HAWK platform in the 1990s, bridging the gap between the shoulder-fired Stinger and the long-range Patriot missile system. The system, deployed via trailers carrying 20 interceptors each, can down targets from two to 43 miles away and is designed for expeditionary operations. According to the service's Force Design 2030, three batteries of MRIC are slated to be fielded by 2028. Maj. Emi Gutierrez, commander of the firing battery, said the MRIC fills critical gaps in integrated air defense systems and fits expeditionary warfare due to its rapid deployment capability.
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