$379 million for Lockheed's missiles

has received a $379 million contract from the US Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) for the production of 112 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missiles. The contract also includes launcher modification kits, program management and engineering, as well as spares and other necessary equipment.

The PAC-3 Missile is currently the world’s only fielded pure kinetic energy air defence missile. Production of all equipment will take place at Lockheed Martin manufacturing facilities in Dallas and Lufkin, Texas, and the PAC-3 All-Up Round facility in Camden, Arizona.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is the prime contractor on the PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defence system. The PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade consists of the PAC-3 Missile, a highly agile hit-to-kill interceptor, the PAC-3 Missile canister (which holds four PAC-3 missiles), a Fire Solution Computer and an Enhanced Launcher Electronics System.

The PAC-3 Missile has been selected as the US primary interceptor for the multi-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). MEADS is a model transatlantic program for the next generation of air and missile defence. MEADS will focus on risk reduction, application of key technologies and validation of a system design incorporating the PAC-3 Missile as the primary interceptor.