U.S. Navy to equip vessels with Patriot missiles fearing Chinese hypersonic weapons
- In Reports
- 08:12 PM, Oct 25, 2024
- Myind Staff
In response to concerns that China may deploy hypersonic weapons capable of targeting ships in the Pacific, the U.S. Navy is advancing plans to equip select vessels with Patriot interceptor missiles, according to statements by two senior defence officials. This strategy involves adapting the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, which are predominantly used by the U.S. Army for air and missile defence. An industry official highlighted that deploying these highly agile interceptors on Navy ships is a proactive measure, to the anticipated deployment of advanced Chinese missile technology, specifically the development of highly maneuverable hypersonic weapons.
The integration of Lockheed Martin-manufactured PAC-3 interceptors with naval air defence systems is progressing as tensions persist in the Indo-Pacific, where China is rapidly modernising its military. This move also follows recent successes of missile defence systems in Ukraine and the Middle East. Although the exact number of PAC-3 interceptors required for Navy deployment remains undetermined, demand for these interceptors is "through the roof," according to Tom Karako, a missile defence expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
Karako noted substantial interest from foreign governments in acquiring the PAC-3 system, while the U.S. Army plans to more than double its production over the next several years. Japan, a key U.S. ally, has been designated as a site for joint Patriot missile production, and Lockheed Martin is exploring options to establish an additional production line for missile seekers in Florida, according to industry sources. This new facility would complement Boeing’s current seeker manufacturing operations and Lockheed Martin is actively promoting the advantages of expanded production to the U.S. Army, which holds final approval authority for the initiative.
The PAC-3 interceptor has successfully engaged manoeuvring hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, demonstrating its capabilities in combat. The U.S. Navy believes that deploying PAC-3 interceptors could provide an additional high-probability layer to its anti-missile systems, which have yet to be tested against hypersonic threats in real combat scenarios.
The Navy told Reuters, "More testing is required in the development roadmap that will include launching PAC-3 MSE from a ship and validating communication with the SPY-1 radar," the main sensor in the Aegis missile system.
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