US Army signs $4.5 billion deal with Lockheed Martin for Patriot missiles
The U.S. Army reached an agreement with Lockheed Martin to produce 870 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) missiles, valued at $4.5 billion, the U.S. Army Press Service reported.
“This multiyear contract award for the PAC-3 MSE missile follows through on the Army’s commitment to stabilize and expand our production capability for this critical weapon system,” said Douglas Bush, the Army’s Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology.
This weapon system is essential for supporting the U.S. Army, as well as Ukraine and other allies worldwide, he said.
The PAC-3 MSE is in high demand, the statement said. It defends against incoming threats using hit-to-kill technology that delivers exponentially more kinetic energy on the target than blast-fragmentation.
The PAC-3 MSE is capable of countering incoming threats including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and aircraft.
Additional air defense for Ukraine
G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy pledged to help Ukraine strengthen its air defense
Bloomberg reported on May 15 that the United States is considering providing Ukraine with another Patriot battery to bolster the country’s air defenses.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on June 3 that Italy will send a SAMP/T air defense battery to Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on June 11 that his country, along with its allies, will deliver 100 additional missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot air defense systems.
Reports indicated on June 20 that the U.S. decided to change its priorities for supplying arms to foreign states and will now prioritize sending Patriot and NASAMS air defense missiles to Ukraine.