Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $5.2 billion contract to supply the U.S. Army with Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has not disclosed how many missiles will be delivered under the contract.
However, he said that work on the deal will be done at Lockheed facilities in Alabama, Florida, New York and nine other states, confirming that the production of these weapons is also, if not primarily, a matter of petty politics.
Deliveries will continue until 2027.
In October 2022, Lockheed announced the opening of a new facility in Arkansas to increase production of PAC-3 missiles by 500 units per year.
Defense against advanced threats
The Patriot, or Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target, is the United States Army’s primary air and missile defense system and has also been widely exported and used in various theaters of war.
It is designed to neutralize tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.
Over the years, the weapon has undergone upgrades necessary to address modern threats, paving the way for the PAC-3 iteration.
Featuring an almost complete redesign of the system, the new variant boasts advanced hit-to-kill technology, which allows the missile to destroy targets by hitting them directly. The range has been increased to 120 km.
Additionally, it is equipped with Boeing’s Ka-band millimeter-wave seeker, which enables precise target detection, identification, tracking and engagement support.
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