David J. Barton
Lockheed Martin‘s PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) variant underwent tests on December 6 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., according to a company statement.
2 PAC-3 missiles were used to conduct the tests. The first missile was meant to eliminate the target and second was supposed to self-destruct.
According to Lockheed, both missiles did what they were meant to as the first destroyed the target and the second exploded on its own.
“Today“™s flight test provided another example of how the PAC-3 MSE Missile has significantly expanded the Patriot battlespace, engaging a TBM at unprecedented range,“ said Richard McDaniel, vice president of PAC-3 programs at Lockheed Martin missiles and fire control.
The PAC-3 MSE variant has increased both the altitude and range of existing PAC-3 missiles while assimilating the PAC-3“™s hit-to-kill technology. It also combines new technology-enabled hardware and software upgrades.
Also, the missiles are packaged in one canister to allow some flexibility in the Patriot air defense system.
Lockheed Martin missiles and fire control is the chief contractor of the PAC-3 missile segment and missile segment enhancement upgrades for the Patriot air defense system.
