The U.S. Army has 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 related hardware. The agreement represents the largest contract in the history of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control division.
Jason Reynolds, vice president and general manager of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin, said:
“PAC-3 MSE’s recent combat performance solidified it as a must-have capability for America and its allies around the world. 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 has been expanding production to meet growing demand. The company expects to deliver more than 600 interceptors in 2025, marking the first time it will reach that level of output. The production increase follows internal investments that began nearly two years before the contract was finalized.
The PAC-3 MSE interceptor is designed to counter ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic threats, and other airborne targets through direct impact, delivering greater kinetic energy than traditional blast-fragmentation systems. To date, 17 nations, including the United States, have selected PAC-3 for their air and missile defense requirements.
