Lockheed Martin [LMT] delivered 13 of its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors to the Army in September, the first missiles to be delivered 19 months after an initial contract award.
Lockheed Martin Vice President for PAC-3 Programs Scott Arnold told a pair of reporters Wednesday these interceptors will go to equip the first unit and that the company has deliveries slated for the rest of the year. Lockheed Martin spokesman John Kent said in an email the company plans to deliver an additional 17 interceptors by the end of the year and that the remainder of the 92 missiles on the fiscal year 2014 contract awarded in March 2014 will be delivered by July.
Image: Lockheed Martin
Arnold said at the Association of United States Army (AUSA) conference in Washington that Lockheed Martin is in contract negotiations with the Army over its FY ’16 procurement. The Army, he said, buys PAC-3 MSEs on an annual contracting basis. This would be Lockheed Martin’s third contract from the Army for PAC-3 MSEs. Arnold said a 108-interceptor contract was issued in July.
Arnold said Lockheed Martin is in discussions to provide Qatar, Japan, Poland and Turkey with MSE. According to company briefing slides, Japan has received launcher modification kits (LMK) that allow the PAC-3 launchers to deploy MSEs. Kent said Qatar, Poland and Turkey have not received LMKs, a precursor for MSE capability. The Army is Lockheed Martin’s only customer for PAC-3 MSE so far.
The MSE is also entering operational testing. Arnold said flight tests are scheduled for later this year and into 2016. Both the Army and Lockheed Martin said they’d be unable to comment further by press time Thursday.
The PAC-3 MSE interceptor is a high-velocity rocket that defends against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft. Built upon the PAC-3 missile, the MSE brings a larger, dual-pulse solid-rocket motor, larger control fins and upgraded support systems. With the enhancements, Lockheed Martin said it nearly doubled the missile’s reach and dramatically improved maneuverability.