10
Loading video...
By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The United States will more than triple its production of the combat-proven Patriot interceptor to defend against air and missile threats, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
Under a seven-year agreement, defense contractor Lockheed Martin will increase its production of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, or PAC-3 MSE, interceptor from about 600 to 2,000 annually to meet what the Defense Department called "long-term demand" from U.S. forces, allies and partner nations.
Why It Matters
The Patriot is designed to defeat tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, aircraft and other aerial threats, serving as part of an integrated air and missile defense system in 19 countries. The PAC-3 MSE variant is described as the "world's most advanced air defense missile" with enhanced altitude and range performance.
Read More on U.S.
Since its combat debut during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when it intercepted Iraqi missiles, the Patriot has continued to protect forces and key targets of the U.S. and its allied and partner nations. Recent conflicts include Ukraine's war with Russia and the defense of a U.S. military base in Qatar against Iranian missile attacks.
The significant increase in PAC-3 MSE production comes as U.S. adversaries—namely Russia, China, Iran and North Korea—advance missile capabilities aimed at defeating America's missile defense network and its future version, known as "Golden Dome."
...
What To Know
The Pentagon said the agreement with Lockheed Martin establishes what it described as "a transformative new acquisition model" that offers long-term demand certainty and incentivizes industrial investment to increase munitions production and cut lead times.
While subject to congressional authorization and appropriations, the deal represents a fundamental shift in how the U.S. rapidly expands munitions production and "magazine depth," Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey said.
"Magazine depth," a term referring to weapons reserves, has become a major concern for U.S. and NATO military leaders since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, as both sides, as well as Kyiv's Western backers, have rapidly expended their munitions.
In the Pacific, the quantity of weapons stockpiled is key for the U.S. military to sustain combat operations across the vast region by defending its warships and land-based facilities, as well as conducting long-range strikes in the event of a conflict with China.
Lockheed Martin said the agreement will create thousands of additional American jobs. Production of the PAC-3 MSE has risen by more than 60% percent over the past two years, with 620 interceptors delivered in 2025, an increase of more than 20 percent over 2024.
"Following recent real-world operations, global demand for PAC-3 MSEs continues to soar," the company noted, adding that the landmark agreement will strengthen the resilience of the U.S. defense industrial base by enabling predictable demand signals.
In his November remarks on the so-called "Arsenal of Freedom," Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon will eliminate layers of bureaucracy and revitalize the defense industrial base by changing the way it does business with contractors.
"Our challenge is to transform not just the way we deter and defend, but the way we conduct our daily business," the secretary said, adding that modernizing the department is a matter of immense urgency and a matter of life and death for "every American."
...
What People Are Saying
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said: "We will stabilize demand signals. We will award companies bigger, longer contracts for proven systems so those companies will be confident in investing more to grow the industrial base that supplies our weapons systems more and faster."
U.S. Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey said: "Lockheed Martin's willingness to help pioneer this transformative acquisition model is a win-win for the taxpayer, our national security, and the rebuilding of the industrial base needed for the Arsenal of Freedom."
Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO Jim Taiclet said: "This first-of-its-kind approach builds on years of advocacy and collaboration to bring commercial practices to major acquisition programs. We will create unprecedented capacity for PAC-3 MSE production, delivering at the speed our nation and allies demand while providing value for taxpayers and our shareholders."
What Happens Next
Hegseth said on Monday that longer, larger, more predictable contracts will be given to contractors that deliver on time and on budget and invest in capability and capacity.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines