Key facts
- Lockheed Martin unveiled the PAC-3 Edge missile interceptor on Friday.
- The PAC-3 Edge is designed to counter hypersonic and advanced missile threats.
- The US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion in July to ramp up PAC-3 interceptor production.
- PAC-3 Edge incorporates a new seeker, upgraded flight controls, and a multi-pulse rocket motor.
- The cost of PAC-3 Edge is expected to be similar to the existing PAC-3 MSE.
- At full production, the annual rate for PAC-3 Edge is projected to be about 2,000 units.
Lockheed Martin on Friday unveiled its new PAC-3 Edge missile interceptor, a system designed to defend against hypersonic and advanced missile threats. This development comes as the US military seeks to bolster its defenses against emerging aerial threats, a need amplified by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Amid growing demand for air and missile defense systems, the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract valued at up to $58.6 billion in July to increase the production of its PAC-3 interceptors. The new PAC-3 Edge variant features enhancements such as a new seeker, updated flight controls, and a multi-pulse rocket motor supplied by Northrop Grumman. These upgrades are intended to improve the interceptor's effectiveness against advanced threats, including hypersonic missiles, at greater ranges and higher altitudes.
Tim Cahill, president of missiles and fire control at Lockheed Martin, stated that the cost of the PAC-3 Edge would be comparable to the existing PAC-3 MSE. He added that at full production, the annual output for the new interceptor is expected to reach approximately 2,000 units, aligning with the current production rate of the PAC-3 MSE. Earlier this year, Lockheed Martin secured a seven-year framework agreement with the US Department of Defense to expand its PAC-3 missile interceptor production capacity from about 600 units annually to 2,000 units.