Latest news with #PAC-3MSE
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Patriot missile production is surging, but the demand is insatiable
American defense companies are cranking out Patriot interceptors at a record-breaking pace, but demand is surging. Russian missiles are stressing Ukraine's Patriots, leaving it scrambling for more ammo. Iranian missiles have put batteries in the Middle East to the test. Western Europe is realizing it needs to revitalize its depleted air defenses, and the US is recognizing that key stocks are running low and need to be not just refilled, but dramatically expanded. Amid global conflicts and growing worries in the West about a major conflict against a peer-level adversary, air defense missiles are in huge demand. It has driven the companies making the launchers, missiles, seekers, and more, defense companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing, to ramp up their production, but the demand is also up. And in a high-end fight, it could skyrocket. Surging production is battling surging demand Patriot batteries are made up of radar and control systems, launcher stations, and interceptor missiles, which altogether make up what is considered to be one of the world's best air defense systems. The weapon can effectively detect and intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft. Last year, the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin, which makes the Patriot's PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles, a contract to bring annual output to 650. It sat at 350 only a few years ago. Interceptor production hit a record-breaking 500 last year, and Lockheed Martin is on track this year to produce more than 600 PAC-3 MSEs for the first time. The company said there would be a "significant increase" for 2027. Meanwhile, Boeing is surging PAC-3 missile seekers, critical components that enable the Patriot system to identify, track, and intercept threats, and Raytheon, which makes Patriot radars and launchers, is boosting PAC-2 interceptor missile production. The global annual production of Patriot missiles is estimated to be somewhere around 850 to 880 per year, according to Fabian Hoffman, an air defense and missile expert at the University of Oslo. That number could hit 1,130 by 2027. Russia, far from the only adversarial nation the West is worried about, is estimated to be producing roughly 840 to 1,020 of its 9M723 Iskander short-range ballistic missiles and the air-launched Kh-47M2 Kinzhal short- to medium-range ballistic missiles a year. Those weapons are only two missiles in a vast arsenal. That imbalance leaves the West with a concerning math problem. Air defenders tend to need to fire two or three interceptors to reliably take out one incoming threat, making things even more complicated. Patriot isn't the only air defense game in town, but it's a key capability that could be stressed without deep stockpiles. Brian Kubik, vice president of PAC-3 programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, told Business Insider that "Lockheed Martin recognizes the critical need for PAC-3 MSE, and we're working closely with the US Army and suppliers to increase our production rate to meet the worldwide demand." "Our robust infrastructure and supply chain provide a strong foundation for increasing production," he explained, adding that the company is "taking proactive steps and making internal investments to help support our suppliers, accelerate delivery, and decrease production roadblocks." Raytheon told Business Insider that "it's more important than ever to co-produce, co-develop, and collaborate to get the best capabilities to the field quickly." It said it has entered into new partnerships to increase production, is increasing its staff, and has also committed nearly $1B to secure critical materials from suppliers and ramp manufacturing for Patriot radars. The company said that "by the end of 2025, Raytheon, along with our suppliers, will accelerate delivery times for Patriot radars by 25%." Patriot GEM-T interceptor production will increase by 150% by 2028, it added. Hoffman cautioned that even if the West's production of missile interceptors, like the Patriots, exceeds Russian conventional ballistic missile production, "this will not solve Europe's problems." And for the US, the threat isn't Russia alone. The Pentagon is eyeing China's growing ballistic missile arsenal and recognizing that it is going to need substantial air defenses. American allies in the Pacific realize that, too. And foes in the Middle East can't be dismissed. Patriots are used by European allies, as well as allies and partner nations in Asia and the Middle East. There are 19 operators worldwide, and that means a lot of competing demand, especially with some nations at war. The West's increased production is starting at a time when interceptor stockpiles appear to be running low in the West, putting extra pressure on production efforts. The challenge in fixing the problem is that the Patriot missiles and batteries take time to make, and in that time, immediate demands compete heavily with stockpiling needs for future fights. Thomas Laliberty, Raytheon's president of land and air defense systems, said last year that "it takes us 12 months to build a Patriot radar, but it takes us 24 months to get all the parts." Meeting global demand often means pulling from existing stockpiles, for both launchers and missiles alike. Strained stockpiles The Pentagon rejected a report from The Guardian last month that said that the US only has about 25% of the Patriot interceptors it needs. Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry told Business Insider that "the US military has what it needs to fight and win any mission, anywhere, anytime." At the beginning of last month, however, the Pentagon abruptly paused weapons shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot interceptors, amid concerns about US weapons stockpiles. The move was reportedly triggered by Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defense for policy and someone who has long been deeply vocal about insufficient US readiness for war with China. Trump reversed the decision on military aid but changed how weapons are being provided to Ukraine, putting cost and stockpile burdens on European allies while the US handles production. Prior to that back-and-forth, the president commented on the Patriots during a press conference, telling a Ukrainian journalist that while the US might be able to get additional systems to Ukraine, "they're very hard to get." "We need them too," Trump said in late June. Though the Pentagon rejected assertions that there is a problem, US officials have previously suggested that there is at least strain. US Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command, said last year that the fighting in the Middle East and Ukraine was eating into the US stockpile, pulling assets away that would be needed in a fight in his priority theater. The admiral said that "to say otherwise would be dishonest." Gen. James Mingus, the vice chief of staff of the Army, said earlier this month that US Patriot battalions as "a very stressed force element." David Shank, a retired Army colonel and the former commandant of the Army Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, shared with The War Zone that the US was short on Patriot interceptors even in 2021, before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war, he explained, has exacerbated longstanding problems with missile stockpiles. There's a clear effort underway to expand US Army stocks as the service aims to quadruple its purchase of interceptors, from 3,376 to 13,773, with a substantial $1.3 billion investment in Patriot missiles, a move that reflects repeated calls from experts and officials for far deeper magazines. What conflicts are showing about the need for air defenses Recent conflicts, specifically the massive missile and drone attacks in Ukraine and in the Middle East, are driving the new demand and showing how critical air defenses are in modern warfare. Ukraine has used its Patriots to protect cities and military infrastructure and to shoot down a Russian aircraft, but it's always in search of more batteries and interceptors. Germany has agreed to provide more, but only on the condition that the US replaces them in six to eight months. There's not enough capacity in existing stocks to easily spare. That means greater demand on producers. NATO is becoming increasingly aware of the value of air defenses. Its secretary general, Mark Rutte, said increased defense spending — an alliance push to spend 5% of GDP on defense — would support a huge "fivefold increase in air defense capabilities." He said that the way Russia is fighting shows why these weapons need to be a top priority. "We see Russia's deadly terror from the skies over Ukraine every day, and we must be able to defend ourselves from such attacks," he said.
Axios
12-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
"You could never have enough": Militaries scramble for air defense interceptors
The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are diminishing supplies of air defenses and raising concerns at the Pentagon, and around the world, about insufficient stockpiles. The big picture: Militaries are burning through interceptors, and everyone wants more. But demand outstrips production. Ukraine bats down Russian salvos. Israel counters Iranian barrages. The U.S. and allies such as France swat away bombardments from Yemen. Meanwhile, worries about stateside stashes were apparently so severe that they necessitated a review of weapons deliveries worldwide. The Pentagon recently froze shipments of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, citing inventory concerns, before Trump at least partially reversed that move. Driving the news: The U.S. Army in its fiscal 2026 budget blueprint increased its acquisition goal for the most advanced variant of Patriot interceptors to almost 14,000. That's quadruple the previous level for those interceptors, the Lockheed Martin-made PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement. What they're saying: " The Biden administration was doing way too much 'playing catch' with the Houthis, and now the Trump administration is doing the same thing," Tom Karako, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Axios. "It's a bipartisan sin to treat our missile-defense interceptors as expendable and attritable assets," he added. "These are scarce national resources. We need to treat them as such." Friction point: Industry can only pump out so many interceptors annually. "Part of the bad news is that we're not going to be able to flip a switch and get all of this overnight," Karako said. Specialty munitions like PAC-3 MSE, Israel Aerospace Industries' Arrow 3 and RTX's Standard Missiles (proving popular in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden battles) cost millions of dollars a pop. Large exchanges can burn through weeks of work. The U.S. reportedly used 30 interceptors in one night shielding Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar from an Iranian attack. Ukraine typically uses multiple countermeasures for each incoming Russian ballistic missile. Yes, but: Lockheed is on track to produce more than 600 PAC-3 MSEs this year, a first for the world's largest defense contractor, and is eyeing 650 annually by 2027. "Demand for PAC-3 MSE has surged following its proven performance in real-world operations," a spokesperson told Axios. "Our new Camden facility, built in 2022, has capacity to increase production rates and enable the program to continue its critical production ramp-up." Lockheed last year signed a $4.5 billion contract with the Army for interceptors and associated hardware. Then-Army acquisition chief Doug Bush described the deal as "vital" to equipping the service "along with Ukraine and other allies around the world." The bottom line: " It seems like the [combatant commands] line up outside the factory doors when PAC-3 MSEs are being produced," retired Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler said at a CSIS event Tuesday. "They're stealing them and they're grabbing them to get them out into their particular areas of responsibility."
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Russia's ballistic missile production up at least 66% over past year, according to Ukrainian intel figures
Russia's production of ballistic missiles has increased by at least 66% over the past year, according to data from Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) shared with the Kyiv Independent. According to data obtained by HUR, Moscow is now producing 60 to 70 Iskander-M — the ballistic version of the missile — and 10 to 15 hypersonic Kinzhals per month. This compares to a reported 40 Iskander-Ms in May 2024, and a reported 4–5 Kinzhals in April 2024. At the lower range, this is an increase in production of 66.67%. At the higher range, 88.89%. Ballistic attacks on Ukraine have become more deadly in recent months as stockpiles of air defense missiles, particularly for U.S.-made Patriots, have dwindled. The figures shared with the Kyiv Independent show Russian stockpiles of "almost 600 Iskander-Ms" and "over 100" Kinzhals. At the end of 2022, Military Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed Russia was almost out of Iskander ballistic missiles. By December 2024, HUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov noted that Russia had increased production to somewhere between 40 and 50 Iskander missiles per month. Russia's expanded production is a cause for alarm in Ukraine. If HUR's figures are correct, Russia's production of ballistic missiles today outnumbers total production of PAC-3 MSE missiles for Patriot air defense systems, the preferred anti-ballistic defenses for much of Europe, which Lockheed Martin hopes to boost to 650 per year by 2027. Other Western systems like the SAMP/T and IRIS-T have not proved effective against ballistic missiles. Russia has moreover reportedly outfitted the newest Iskanders with radar decoys and less predictable flight paths, making them harder to shoot down even with Patriot systems. Ukraine's military intelligence has also estimated that Russia is holding a stockpile of 60 North Korean KN-23s. These missiles are similar to the Iskander-Ms, but carry a one-ton warhead, more powerful than their Russian equivalents. The figures shared with the Kyiv Independent further show that total production for cruise missiles has also continued to grow. Russia can produce 20 to 30 Iskander-Ks, 60 to 70 X-101s, 25 to 30 Kalibrs, up to 10 X-32s and 20-30 Onyx and Zircon anti-ship missiles. A massive Ukrainian attack on Russian airfields on June 1 may have restricted Russia's ability to launch several of these cruise missiles. Tu-95M3s often carry Kh-55/Kh-555 or the newer Kh-101 and Kh-102 air-launched cruise missiles. The Tu-22 carries the Kh-22 of these types of aircraft are among those reported to have been damaged in Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb. During wartime, Ukraine has also built out its production of its own cruise and ballistic missiles. But large-scale production of types of missiles depend on major industrial zones that often fall victim to Russian air strikes — particularly when limited air defenses are being rationed. Read also: Russia's Crimean Bridge rocked by explosions, Ukraine's SBU claims responsibilityWe've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Patriot PAC-3 Missile Puts Crosshairs On Replacing Navy's Long-Serving SM-2
Lockheed Martin is boosting production of its Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor as it awaits a U.S. Navy decision on whether it will buy the missile to arm the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System aboard its warships. While the PAC-3 is very much in demand right now for ground-based applications, the company is confident that it could also fill a very important niche for the Navy, potentially providing a long-term replacement for the widely used Standard Missile-2 (SM-2). Meanwhile, the service has its own growing concerns about keeping up a steady supply of surface-to-air and other missiles during a future high-end conflict, such as one in the Pacific against China. As we've reported in the past, the PAC-3 MSE was tested on land from a Mk 41-derived containerized launcher, which resulted in the downing of a mock cruise missile. This combination offers a valuable additional air and missile defense option for use in a slew of existing and future launchers, and not just on ships. Speaking at the Sea-Air-Space Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, this week, Chris Mang, vice president of strategy & business development at Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control, reiterated the Navy's interest in the PAC-3 MSE as an addition to its Aegis combat system. Mang described PAC-3 MSE as a 'highly agile Army missile [that was] made to do counter-hypersonic, ballistic missile, and cruise missile defense in various tight envelopes for the Army.' He noted that the missile's capabilities are only enhanced when it's put in a maritime context and paired with the Aegis system, which has a lot more power than the Army's radar systems. 'The Navy was having a real challenge,' Mang added. 'They had very good long-range missiles, but they needed a complementary missile to tackle some of the really difficult threats, especially once in close. Think submarine-launched anti-ship missiles that were getting in close very quickly. When you pair this missile with the Navy combat system and radars, it works very well.' As to whether the Navy will buy the PAC-3 MSE, Mang said that 'they seem to be tracking in that direction … we certainly seem to have a lot of interest there.' Part of this interest is driven by the fact that the PAC-3 MSE is potentially available in significant numbers. 'We're building 600 a year,' Mang continued. 'A lot have been shot in Ukraine. A lot have been shot in the Middle East by both Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Army. All very successful.' Indeed, the success of the PAC-3 MSE in these theaters can be measured by the fact that it has proven so accurate, Mang said, 'that you can actually change the shot doctrine.' Essentially, missile operators now consider that a single PAC-3 MSE is typically good enough to destroy the threat, whereas in the past, using older systems, they would have to shoot two. 'We'll certainly see a lot of pressure on production,' Mang noted, in light of growing global demand for the PAC-3 MSE, but he considers that the company is 'very robust' in terms of ramping up output of the missile. Production capacity just a couple of years ago was around 250 PAC-3 MSE interceptors a year, while the figure is now around 600. 'We've been in discussions with the Army about building even more. I will tell you that the line is probably going to continue to accelerate up the ramp. Now, how fast we can do that is to be determined — it's a pretty complex weapon.' In the meantime, Lockheed Martin is already working to secure adequate supplies of certain critical components, such as datalinks, which will be required in greater quantities once production ramps up. Even without a Navy buy, there are between six and eight countries all asking for more PAC-3 MSE interceptors, Mang said. Should the Navy go for PAC-3 MSE, it will get a missile that is complementary to the air defense missiles it already operates. When it comes to the Standard Missile family, the SM-2s are 'obsolescing out,' Mang says, 'they've been shooting a lot of them.' Otherwise, there is the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), which is a shorter-range defensive system, and the SM-3 midcourse anti-ballistic missile interceptor. Then there is the SM-6 covering the upper tier, but also a highly versatile missile that can intercept ballistic missiles during their terminal attack stage, as well as air-breathing threats at extended ranges. The SM-6 can also hit targets on land and at sea. 'It's a good long-range missile,' Mang says of the SM-6. However, for closer-in threats, the SM-6 presents a challenge in that it is first boosted out to altitude. 'You're going way down range,' Mang observed. 'If you want to hit targets down low, you have got to kind of come way downhill and hit it.' The result is something of a gap in air defense coverage, where the SM-6 has some challenges, especially due to maneuvering threats. It's in this part of the envelope that the PAC-3 MSE excels, its agility enhanced by its miniature attitude control motors: 'You see them as little jets of flame when it comes out of the can,' Mang explained. 'We can literally come out of the can and be on the deck in under a kilometer. 'A lot of places the Navy has said 'I got red or yellow challenges that I can't deal with.' This missile does a really good job at that. When you marry them all together, it is very complimentary to SM-6. You'd always want a layered defense, right? I'll pick the longest shot I can get, but then at a certain point, MSE really starts to outperform in certain envelopes.' Once again, integrating the PAC-3 MSE with the Aegis system also makes it that much more capable compared with the Army version, which is limited by the requirement for a degree of battlefield mobility. 'Again, I'm not picking on the Army system, but remember, they till it around the battlefield. They got one generator. It's limited by size, weight, and power. You got a ship with four generators with liquid-cooled systems, right? And what a much more powerful combat system does for that missile turned out to be really good.' For the time being, Lockheed Martin is offering the PAC-3 MSE as a single missile that will be loaded in any given cell of the Mk 41 VLS. In the future, however, the number of missiles carried in a single hull could be increased through the use of quad packs of missiles. However, this would require the PAC-3 Cost-Reduction-Initiative (CRI) interceptor to be loaded. 'In the MSE configuration, we cannot quad pack it,' Mang continued. 'It's a little too big, because at the time they developed it, no one was worried about a quad pack. My sense today is no one wants to go back and restart that particular rocket motor line [for the CRI version]. We've asked the Navy that several times, and again, they've made no decisions.' While the PAC-3 CRI would allow a greater magazine depth, also a growing concern amid the proliferation of drone and missile threats, the smaller missile translates as reduced performance, including a lower engagement altitude. 'Because the diameter of the rocket motor comes down a fair bit, it's a little less sporty,' Mang said. 'But it depends, right? If they really buy off on this and then slap the table and say, 'I want a quad pack,' I can absolutely do it. It's just engineering and qual[ification] time.' For the time being, Mang expects the Navy, should it choose to go with PAC-3, to buy the MSE interceptors off the current production line, with the CRI version a possible follow-on choice. Finally, in terms of costs, a single PAC-3 MSE interceptor is priced at around $4.2 million, according to the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request. This is almost identical to the SM-6, at $4.27 million per round. Meanwhile, the more complex multi-stage SM-3s come in at $12.5 million for the Block IB, and $28.7 million for the Block IIA. The Block IIIC upgrade kits for older SM-2 missiles, which enhance the capabilities of the older Block IIIA and B missiles, each cost $2.5 million. With the PAC-3 MSE interceptor now proven from the Mk 41-based launcher, Navy interest in what this combination might offer is not surprising, given the growing challenges in the air defense environment. Now we will have to wait and see whether the service follows through on this with an order, which would add yet another customer to the PAC-3 user group and provide Lockheed Martin with a foothold in the naval missile market. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Moog Receives Substantial Lockheed Martin Award in Support of PAC-3 MSE Contract
EAST AURORA, N.Y., January 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B) has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide custom actuators for the Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 (PAC-3®) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) contract with the U.S. Army. This upcoming major contract is one of the largest in the history of Moog's Defense Division valued at over $100 million. The award is attributed to Moog's exemplary record of quality and on-time deliveries. The PAC-3 MSE program is a critical weapon system in support of the U.S. Army, Joint Forces, and global allies designed to defend against inbound tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, advanced threats and aircraft. "This award acknowledges Moog's unwavering dedication to equipping brave warfighters and service members across the globe in defense of their homelands from ever-evolving threats. Across all our global operations, we embrace responsibility for delivering unparalleled quality product and ensuring timely and reliable support to valued customers like Lockheed Martin," said Mike Gruver, Senior Vice President, Defense Division, Moog. Moog electromechanical actuators ensure precision steering enabling PAC-3 MSE missiles to engage intended targets. Production for the custom actuators will occur in Moog's Salt Lake City, UT facility. "This contract represents Moog's critical position in the PAC-3 MSE full rate production program, where increasing global demand is necessitating a committed, affordable and reliable supply chain," said Brian Kubik, Vice President, PAC-3 Program, Lockheed Martin. About Moog Inc. Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and systems integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls and control systems. Moog's high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites, and space vehicles, launch vehicles, defense systems, missiles, automated industrial machinery, and marine and medical equipment. Additional information about the company can be found at View source version on Contacts Defense Marketing +1 716.687.7157 defensemedia@ Investor Relations +1 716.687.4225 investorrelations@
