Next-gen intercontinental ballistic missile interceptor estimated to cost nearly $18 billion (U.S. Missile Defense Agency) WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s Next-Generation Interceptor that is being competitively developed to replace the current ground-based interceptors within the United States’ homeland intercontinental ballistic missile defense system is estimated to cost nearly $18 billion across the life of the program. An independent cost estimate from the Defense Department’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) office — first reported by Bloomberg and since obtained by Defense News — has determined the total cost to develop the NGI will come to roughly $13 billion while procurement as well as operation and sustainment will come to a little over $2 billion each.