According to the company's plans, in 2025, 20% more should be produced than this year, i.e. 660, which is precisely what is stipulated by the new contract.
The production of MSE anti-missiles for Patriot PAC-3 systems at Lockheed Martin has reached new record figures and received an additional contract to continue increasing their production to 650 units per year.
As Defense Express writes, by the end of 2024, the number of MSEs produced will exceed 500 units, which will be a record.
It is noted that in June of this year, Tim Cahill, president of the Missiles and Fire Control Systems Division, stated that the annual rate would be 550 Patriot missiles of this type.
According to the company's plans, in 2025, 20% more should be produced than this year, i.e. 660, which is precisely what is stipulated by the new contract.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“And this is an acceleration of plans for a whole year, because initially Lockheed Martin planned to reach the milestone of 650 MSE units in 2027. And 550 were planned to be produced no earlier than 2026,” analysts note.
Lockheed Martin also boasted that they had recently produced the 2,000th MSE missile, the first contract for the production of which was issued in April 2014.
Experts recalled that the Patriot MSE missile is designed to intercept ballistic targets at ranges of up to 60 km. They added:
“This is a kinetic interceptor (hit-to-kill) that destroys an enemy missile due to the enormous energy of the encounter at ultra-high speeds, which is why the destruction of the warhead of the enemy missile is achieved while still in the air.”
It is noted that the accuracy of the interception is ensured not only by the missile's own radar homing head, which also receives data from the radar of the anti-aircraft missile complex, but also by super-maneuverability due to gas-dynamic rudders. One Patriot PAC-3 battery with 8 launchers can be armed with up to 128 MSE missiles, 16 on one launcher.