Lockheed Martin secures $5.2 billion contract to supply US Army with advanced PAC-3 missiles

News, US July 2, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. defense giant, Lockheed Martin, has signed a $5.2 billion contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to supply the U.S. Army with Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles. So far, it has not been revealed that how many units of these missiles will be supplied to the Army.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the production and delivery process will be extensive, involving multiple Lockheed Martin facilities across Alabama, Florida, New York, and nine other states. Deliveries are set to continue through 2027, ensuring a steady enhancement of the U.S. Army’s defensive arsenal over the next few years.

The PAC-3 missile system is a crucial component of the U.S. military’s strategy to defend against advanced threats. Its ability to neutralize a wide range of missiles and aircraft makes it an invaluable asset in maintaining national security. The advanced hit-to-kill technology, combined with the Ka-band millimeter wave seeker, ensures that the PAC-3 can engage and destroy threats with a high degree of accuracy and reliability.

The Patriot system, an acronym for Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target, has long been the cornerstone of the U.S. Army’s air and missile defense strategy. It is designed to counter a wide array of threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft. Over the years, the system has undergone numerous upgrades to enhance its effectiveness and adapt to the changing landscape of modern warfare.

The PAC-3 represents the latest and most advanced iteration of the Patriot missile system. One of its most notable features is the advanced hit-to-kill technology. Unlike previous versions that relied on explosive warheads, the PAC-3 destroys incoming threats by directly colliding with them, providing a highly effective method of neutralizing targets.

*^{Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement Missile. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

The missile is equipped with Boeing’s Ka-band, a sophisticated guidance system that allows for precise target detection, identification, tracking, and engagement. This technology enhances the missile’s accuracy, ensuring it can effectively intercept and destroy even the most advanced airborne threats.

Increasing demand

In response to the increasing demand for the PAC-3 missile system, Lockheed Martin announced the opening of a new production facility in Arkansas in October 2022. This facility was specifically established to boost PAC-3 missile production by 500 units annually, highlighting the company’s commitment to meeting the needs of the U.S. military and its allies efficiently.

The increased production of these missiles is aimed at enhancing the United States’ ability to support its military forces and those of its allies abroad, particularly Ukraine, according to the statement.

Kyiv currently operates at least four Patriot systems provided by the United States and Germany. In May, the Netherlands launched a cooperative effort to supply an additional air defense battery, urging other nations to contribute individual components. Spain, Greece, Romania, and Poland also possess Patriot systems but have declined to send them to Ukraine.

U.S. Army's Patriot PAC-3 missile battery — *^{U.S. Army’s Patriot PAC-3 missile battery in an undisclosed location. (Image Credit: U.S. DoD)}*

Poland has indicated that its Patriots are safeguarding infrastructure used to transport Western weapons across its border into Ukraine, and therefore are already in use. Italy announced this month that it will supply Kyiv with a second SAMP/T air defense system, a European alternative to the Patriot.