Latest news with #PatriotAdvancedCapability-3
Business Insider
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Air defenders like the Patriot soldiers who shot down Iranian missiles are becoming a 'new tip of the spear,' Army secretary says
Air defenders are becoming some of the US Army's most in-demand soldiers, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said. After Patriot crews intercepted Iran's missile attack on a US base in Qatar last month, Driscoll said that air defenders are in some ways becoming the Army's "new tip of the spear," a phrase that is typically used for troops like special operators. In a recent interview with Business Insider, Driscoll and Gen. James Rainey, the commanding general overseeing Army Futures Command, said Army leadership has seen a strong demand signal in recent conflicts. Integrated air and missile defenses are " one of the most demanded and deployed capabilities we as an Army have," the Army secretary said. "We have been stressing those units for a long time." He added that the demand signal will only increase, noting that Army leadership "likes to refer to them as, in some ways, the new tip of the spear." The phrase often refers to elite, forward-deployed forces, like special operations forces like the Green Berets, Delta Force, or Rangers, because these forces are often deployed ahead of conventional forces and lead operations or shape the battlefield for strategic impact. It is not typically applied to defensive assets. Air and missile defenses are critical for blunting strikes and threatening enemy airpower. Recruiting more soldiers for air defense battalions in 2026 and fielding additional Patriots and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems are priorities for the Army. A need for more Patriots The Army has 15 Patriot battalions, Gen. James Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army, said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event last week, although one is undergoing a major revamp. Three are deployed to the Indo-Pacific and one is in Europe. One Patriot in US Central Command has been there, Mingus said, for close to 500 days. The rest are service retained, or unassigned. Mingus described the Patriot battalions as "a very stressed force element," and said the Army was aware it had to grow its number of systems, with plans to increase to 18 battalions, not including one going to Guam as part of the Guam Defense System. The Army is also stockpiling munitions critical to this air defense mission. In its 2026 budget proposal, the service requested to quadruple its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile. The Army has previously spoken about the need to increase the magazine depth for its munitions given the potential for a protracted conflict to chew through critical weapon stockpiles. Recent reporting suggested US Patriot interceptor stockpiles could be critically low. The Army's big plans to dramatically increase its stockpile include a request for $1.3 billion in extra funding. A high-risk situation could demand numerous interceptors. Recently, Patriot missile batteries were used to shield the US military's Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar from Iranian ballistic missiles launched in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine described the intercepts as "a lot of metal flying around." The top general said it was believed to be "the largest single Patriot engagement in US military history." The Pentagon acknowledged last week, as a satellite image showing damage at the base surfaced, that one enemy missile got through, causing "minimal damage to equipment and structures on the base." The rest of over a dozen missiles fired are said to have been intercepted. Driscoll told BI that the soldiers involved in those air defense operations demonstrated "incredible bravery and an ability to stand back and do their job under immense stress." M1M-104 Patriots are sophisticated surface-to-air missile defense platforms that long had mixed reviews but have been invaluable for Ukraine, which received the systems from the US and has been employing them against Russian missile and drone strikes. Ukraine has requested more of these systems and the interceptors, calling them critical for keeping civilian centers and cities safe. Weapons to Ukraine There's been recent confusion about whether the US intends to provide more Patriot interceptors to Ukraine. Earlier this month, the White House said a decision had been made to pause ammunition delivery to Ukraine amid concerns about American stockpiles decreasing, with reports identifying Patriots as one of the capabilities being halted, specifically much-needed interceptor missiles. The shipment had been promised by the Biden administration. Last week, President Donald Trump reversed the pause, telling reporters he didn't know who approved it. The Pentagon then said it would send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine. In an interview, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the initial decision to pause the shipment "unfortunately was mischaracterized. It was a pause pending review on a handful of specific type munitions." Trump said over the weekend that the US would be sending Patriots to Ukraine but that " the European Union is paying for it." "We're not paying anything for it, but we will send it," he said. The president didn't specify how many systems or interceptors would be included or when Ukraine might receive the weapons. Speaking at the White House Monday alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the president said that a deal was in the works to move Patriots out of NATO countries into Ukraine. The US would then backfill the lost capability. "A couple of the countries that have Patriots are going to swap over, and we'll replace the Patriots," Trump said. Patriots are made by US defense firms RTX and Lockheed Martin, both of which are working to expand essential production.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lockheed Martin Secures a Contract to Manufacture LRASM
Lockheed Martin Corporation LMT recently secured a modification contract valued at $13.3 million for the production of Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile's (LRASM) ninth lot. The award has been provided by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, work related to this deal will be carried out in Orlando, FL, and is projected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2028. The latest modification brings the total value of the contract to $5.19 billion. Lockheed Martin's LRASM is a precision-guided intelligent anti-ship missile designed to prevent a variety of surface threats at very long ranges. It can navigate semi-autonomously to a target and deliver a precise payload from a safe standoff notable features must have enabled Lockheed Martin to secure a number of contracts for these missiles from the Pentagon and other U.S. allies, the latest contract being an example of that. Rising military conflicts, terrorism and border disputes have led nations to increase their focus on national security, particularly on missile defense systems, backed by the rapid development of advanced missile technologies over the last is likely to have prompted the Mordor Intelligence firm to forecast a compound annual growth rate of 5% for the global missiles and missile defense systems market during the 2025-2030 time market projections offer solid growth opportunities for Lockheed Martin, with its Missile and Fire Control unit being a recognized developer of high-performance missiles. The unit pursues business in more than 50 countries worldwide. Some of its major programs are the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air and missile defense programs, in addition to the LRASM. Other defense companies that are likely to enjoy the perks of the expanding global missiles and missile defense system market have been discussed Grumman Corporation NOC: Northrop Grumman provides high-speed, long-range strike weapons like the AARGM-ER, which is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system. It also develops and builds advanced missile defense technology, ranging from command systems to directed energy weapons, advanced munitions and powerful company's long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 4.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NOC's 2025 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 3%.RTX Corporation RTX: It is known for its missile defense systems like the Patriot and SM-6, which are in high demand globally. RTX also provides advanced sensors and interceptors to identify, track and defeat threats as part of a layered missile company's long-term earnings growth rate is 9.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RTX's 2025 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 4.4%.The Boeing Company BA: It manufactures various missile defense systems, including the Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense and Avenger. Boeing-built and supported air and missile defense systems have been protecting its customers for nearly 25 years against threats ranging from intercontinental ballistic missiles to hostile company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 17.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BA's 2025 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 25.7%. Shares of LMT have lost 0.2% in the past year against the industry's 13.3% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research LMT currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Boeing Company (BA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report RTX Corporation (RTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Korea Herald
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
US Patriot missile batteries in S. Korea to be temporarily deployed to Middle East
South Korea and the United States have recently agreed on a plan to temporarily deploy Patriot missile defense batteries from the South to the Middle East, sources said Friday, amid speculation over a potential shift in the role of the US Forces Korea. The allies agreed last month on the "monthslong" partial deployment of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3, the first known case involving the relocation of USFK assets to the Middle East, according to the sources. The missiles work alongside South Korea's own air defense assets in a multilayered missile defense system against North Korea's missile and nuclear threats, according to the sources. The rare move comes after US broadcaster NBC News reported last week that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized at least two Patriot missile defense batteries from Asia to be moved to the Middle East as the US takes military action against Yemen's Houthi rebels. But it also comes amid growing concerns here that Washington may demand that Seoul further shoulder the cost of the upkeep of the USFK or reconsider the role of US troops in South Korea as US President Donald Trump takes a "transactional" approach to alliances. The USFK reaffirmed its ironclad commitment to the Korean Peninsula, without providing further details, citing internal policy, when asked about the latest deployment. "USFK will temporarily deploy personnel and equipment from the Republic of Korea as part of a rotational deployment," it said in a statement. "USFK will still maintain a ready, capable, and lethal force on the Korean peninsula prepared to respond to any contingency." (Yonhap)
