{"id":44301,"date":"2018-07-26T16:37:19","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T16:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/26\/patriot-missile-breaks-its-own-distance-record-to-defeat-threat-target-in-test\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:43:23","slug":"patriot-missile-breaks-its-own-distance-record-to-defeat-threat-target-in-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2018\/07\/26\/patriot-missile-breaks-its-own-distance-record-to-defeat-threat-target-in-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriot missile breaks its own distance record to defeat threat target in test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Army\u2019s most advanced version of the Patriot missile<\/a> broke its own distance record to intercept a target, according to Lockheed Martin, the missile\u2019s manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor took out an air-breathing threat target in a test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on July 26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Lockheed, this marks the furthest distance a PAC-3 MSE missile has intercepted an air-breathing target. These types of targets mimic the flight profile of fixed-wing aircraft or cruise missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army-led flight test demonstrated the missile\u2019s \u201cunique\u201d hit-to-kill capability, which means the missile hits the target dead on. The test also confirmed PAC-3 MSE\u2019s detection and tracking capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPAC-3 MSE continues to be successful against today\u2019s evolving threats, and this most recent test validates its effectiveness at extreme distances,\u201d Jay Pitman, vice president of PAC-3 programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockheed Martin is gearing up to double its PAC-3 MSE production in the coming years as the Army moves into full-rate production. That decision to move forward at a full production rate came in April this year. The service has already made plans in its fiscal 2019 budget request to increase the numbers of missiles<\/a> it will buy going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\t