PAC-3 missile intercepts tactical ballistic missile

PAC-3 missile intercepts tactical ballistic missile
http://defence-data.com/storypic/pac3.jpg [not image]
9 February 2000

The US Army, the Ballistic Missile Defence Organisation and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas conducted another successful flight of a Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile at White Sands Missile Range, in New Mexico on Saturday and morning when the missile intercepted and destroyed an incoming tactical ballistic missile.

Preliminary test data indicate all other test objectives were successfully achieved.

"We continue to see hit after hit for the PAC-3 Missile," said Mike Trotsky, vice president - air defence programmes for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas. "The PAC-3 Missile continues to prove itself, and the PAC-3 Missile's hit-to-kill technology keeps performing just as anticipated."

The PAC-3 Missile is a high velocity, hit-to-kill missile and is the next generation Patriot missile being developed to provide increased capability against advanced theatre ballistic missile, cruise missile and hostile aircraft. The missile kills incoming targets by direct, body-to-body impact. When deployed in a Patriot battery, the missiles will effectively double the Patriot system's firepower, since sixteen PAC-3 Missiles load-out on a Patriot launcher, compared with four Patriot missiles.

The PAC-3 Missile has had five consecutive successful engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) test flights since 1997. The first two EMD missions were on conducted with special instrumentation packages in place of the full-up PAC-3 Missile seeker. The missions were structured to verify critical systems and missile performance prior to conducting target intercept flight tests.

In addition to the five successful PAC-3 Missile EMD flight tests, the PAC-3's predecessor missile, the Extended-Range Interceptor, demonstrated three hits in a row during the demonstration/validation programme in 1994. Two of those tests involved TBM targets and one involved an air-breathing target (simulating a cruise missile or aircraft).

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas is the prime contractor responsible for the PAC-3 Missile segment upgrade, which consists of the PAC-3 Missile, missile canisters (in four-packs), the Fire Solution Computer and the Enhanced Launcher Electronics System.

Contracts totalling $143 million for PAC-3 Missile Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP), special hardware and long lead-time items were awarded to Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas in December 1999.
DSD