Lockheed Martin awarded PAC-3 Missile contract

Lockheed Martin will provide hardware and services associated with the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment programme under a $308 million contract modification received from the US Army Aviation and Missile Command.

The contract modification includes Fiscal Year 2013 missile and command launch system production for the US Army, and systems that will be supplied to Kuwait as part of a US government foreign military sale.

In total, Lockheed Martin will supply 244 hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missiles, 72 launcher modification kits and associated tooling, as well as programme management. This is the 14th production buy of the PAC-3 Missile Segment by the US government. Deliveries will begin in 2014.

Richard McDaniel, vice president of PAC-3 Missile programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said: ‘Kuwait’s purchase of PAC-3 Missiles will provide its defence forces with a superior air and missile defence capability. This is another example of the growing global interest for the PAC-3 Missile’s capabilities.’

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor on the PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defence system. The PAC-3 Missile Segment consists of the PAC-3 Missile, a highly agile hit-to-kill interceptor, the PAC-3 Missile canisters (each of which hold four PAC-3 Missiles, with four canisters per launcher), a fire solution computer and an enhanced launcher electronics system and launcher support hardware.