Lockheed Martin has developed the PAC-3 Edge rocket for the Patriot complex
Lockheed Martin has unveiled a new PAC-3 Edge interceptor missile, which should become the most advanced in the family of missiles for the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system and surpass the current PAC-3 MSE in range, altitude and maneuverability.
Lockheed Martin showed the PAC-3 Edge at the U.S. Army Association exhibition. The missile is being developed as part of the army's next-generation interceptor competition and should better cope with ballistic and hypersonic threats than the current PAC-3 MSE .
The PAC-3 Edge is based on the PAC-3 MSE technology, but the rocket has received a new homing head, an upgraded control system and a more advanced solid-fuel engine developed jointly with Northrop Grumman. Externally, the rocket is noticeably different from the MSE: it has no side stabilizers and a characteristic narrowing of the body between the front and rear parts.
Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin's missile and fire control systems division, told the publication that the homing head technology created for the PAC-3 Edge will be used in other strike and defensive systems of the company in the future. "So it's not just a single solution for a single homing head, but a whole family of homing heads that will work in different ranges," Cahill explained.
On October 9, Lockheed Martin announced that it had entered the next stage of the US Army's Future Interceptor competition. Testing is scheduled to begin in 2027, and the first deliveries in 2031. Earlier, the Army abandoned the Lower-Tier Future Interceptor program due to its high cost, focusing on the gradual improvement of the PAC-3 MSE, but the appearance of a new competition indicates renewed interest in a more serious leap in capabilities.
The rocket uses a three-pulse solid-fuel engine instead of a two-pulse one, which saves energy for the final stage of interception, when the rocket needs to maneuver sharply. The number and power of roll control engines have also been increased compared to the PAC-3 MSE. The manufacturer has not yet provided specific characteristics of the range, speed and types of targets of the new missile and has not confirmed its capabilities through flight tests.
Lockheed Martin is also developing a cheaper PAC-3 ACE missile worth about $2.5 million, which is less than half the price of the PAC–3 MSE while retaining two-thirds of its capabilities. In January, the company signed a seven-year contract with the Pentagon to increase production of the PAC-3 MSE from 600 to 2,000 missiles per year, and in July it received an additional $ 53.86 billion for this purpose, bringing the total amount of the multi-year contract to $58.62 billion.
As the newspaper VZGLYAD wrote, on Monday, Anduril developed a cheap rocket analog for Patriot systems. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced the construction of factories in the United States for Patriot and THAAD systems. At the end of September, Germany wanted to produce American missiles for Patriot in Europe.
Igor Inozharsky
