PAC-3 demonstrates advanced integration in successful defense test
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 16, 2024

Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile demonstrated its advanced capabilities by successfully integrating with the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radar and the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). During the test at White Sands Missile Range, the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) effectively neutralized a Tactical Ballistic Missile (TBM) and an airborne threat.

The test marks the sixth in an ongoing series to validate the PAC-3 system's performance within the U.S. Army's modernized Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) architecture. It confirmed PAC-3 MSE's ability to detect, acquire, track, and engage flight test targets when paired with LTAMDS and IBCS - critical components for modern battlefield awareness and response.

"The ongoing evolution of PAC-3's capabilities reflects our commitment to providing soldiers the most advanced and effective tools to counter emerging threats," said Brian Kubik, vice president of PAC-3 Programs. "In partnership with the U.S. Army, we're maximizing PAC-3's effectiveness within a robust and resilient integrated 360-degree ecosystem that maximizes situational awareness and response capabilities to help soldiers defend what matters most."

The PAC-3 missile employs Hit-to-Kill technology, a system that neutralizes threats through direct body-to-body impact. This method delivers significantly higher kinetic energy on targets compared to traditional blast-fragmentation systems. The PAC-3's versatility makes it effective against a wide range of threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced systems like hypersonics.

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