The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to support increasing its production capacity to 650 Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) rounds per year, the company announced on 14 November 2024. The value of the contract award was not disclosed.
There is currently significant global demand for the PAC-3 MSE, which Lockheed Martin bills as ‘the world’s most advanced air defence missile’.
“Demand for PAC-3 MSE’s combat-proven deterrence capabilities continues to grow at a rapid pace,” Brian Kubik, vice president of PAC-3 programmes at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “To meet the increased demand Lockheed Martin started this effort with internal funding more than a year ago to expand the PAC-3 MSE production capacity, both in our factories and across the supply chain. We are also investing to implement lean, agile processes to deliver this critical product to our partners more efficiently,” Kubik added.
Over the last eight months Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has significantly increased PAC-3 output and achieved new record highs for missile production, the company noted. In 2024 production has grown by more than 30%, with another 20% growth planned for next year.
Lockheed Martin says it is on track to produce in excess of stated capacity for the next several years. By the end of 2024 the company will have exceeded 500 PAC-3 MSEs: a new production high. The company also recently completed the 2,000th PAC-3 MSE missile: a significant programme milestone.
The production ramp-up of critical systems like the PAC-3 missile is a key component of Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security vision, which aims to strengthen the US defence-industrial base and develop more advanced, modernised solutions.
