The U.S. military, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, has achieved a milestone by successfully testing the launch of an Army PAC-3 missile from a naval launch platform on land. This test, conducted under a classified Defense Department project, could pave the way for U.S. Navy ships to deploy Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles.
The test took place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) was fired from an MK-70 containerized platform. The missile accurately tracked and intercepted a cruise missile target, according to a Lockheed Martin announcement on May 20.
Tom Copeman, Vice President of Strategy and Naval Programs at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating that it demonstrates the company’s commitment to advancing technologies that keep U.S. forces ahead of emerging threats.
Lockheed Martin is working to adapt the PAC-3 MSE missile for naval use, integrating it with the Aegis Weapon System’s SPY radar. This effort is part of a broader initiative outlined in the Navy’s fiscal year 2024 budget, which includes a project called “Compact Agile Interceptors” aimed at addressing complex threats like hypersonic and cruise missiles.
The PAC-3 MSE missile is an enhanced version of the Patriot system, designed to intercept and neutralize various threats including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft. It features a solid-fuel rocket motor, advanced guidance system, and a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, with a hit-to-kill capability that ensures direct impact destruction.
This recent test is part of Lockheed Martin’s ongoing efforts, which began in 2017, to provide the U.S. Navy with advanced missile defense capabilities. The company’s facility in Camden, Arkansas, is ramping up production of the PAC-3 MSE to meet increasing demand, aiming to produce 550 missiles annually.
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