The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.8 billion contract for the production of 1,970 Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors and associated hardware. This marks the largest contract in Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control history and demonstrates the continued demand for and trust in this advanced, precise and proven interceptor.
“PAC-3 MSE’s recent combat performance solidified it as a must-have capability for America and its allies around the world,” said Jason Reynolds, vice president and general manager of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin. “With this contract, we’ll be delivering record numbers of PAC-3 MSE for years to come, ensuring our customers have the advanced missile defense solutions they need to defend what matters most.”
Lockheed Martin is continuing to ramp production of PAC-3 to meet increased demand. The company is expected to deliver more than 600 interceptors in 2025 for the first time. This is a result of the company’s proactive steps to start the production ramp with significant internal investments to increase PAC-3 MSE production rates almost two years ahead of contract award.
PAC-3 MSE defends against incoming threats through direct body-to-body contact delivering exponentially more kinetic energy on the target than can be achieved with blast fragmentation mechanisms. The interceptor is combat proven against ballistic missile, cruise missile, hypersonic and airborne threats. 17 partner nations, including the U.S., have chosen PAC-3 to defend against incoming threats.
The PAC-3 MSE is the latest interceptor configuration in the Patriot air and missile defense family.
Compared to older variants that use blast fragmentation, the missile destroys targets through direct “hit-to-kill” impact, delivering greater kinetic energy on the target.
It measures 16 feet (5 meters) in length, 10 inches (25 centimeters) in diameter, and weighs around 820 pounds (370 kilograms).
The interceptor’s dual-pulse solid rocket motor enables a maximum altitude of 118,000 feet (35,966 meters), a range of up to 75 miles (120 kilometers), and speeds above Mach 4 (3,069 miles/4,939 kilometers per hour).
PAC-3 MSE is combat-proven against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and other aerial threats.
Seventeen nations, including the US, have fielded the PAC-3 to strengthen layered air defenses.
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