The US is developing a more affordable missile for Patriot: what is known about it

Lockheed Martin is developing a new missile for its Patriot air defense system that is expected to be significantly cheaper than current interceptors, as the manufacturer seeks to meet the rapidly growing demand for air defense.

Reuters reports this.

The new missile is called the PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector (ACE). The company says it will cost less than half the price of the PAC-3 MSE missile, which currently costs the US Army about $4 million per unit.

The new interceptor is scheduled to begin production in about three years. Lockheed Martin is developing it with partners from the US and Europe.

Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said that the military needs not only effective but also more affordable weapons.

“The American military and its allies need a solution that has already proven its effectiveness in combat while remaining cost-effective,” Cahill said at the British Farnborough Air Show.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Patriot systems have become one of the most sought-after air defense systems in the world. Ukraine has repeatedly called on allies to increase supplies of both the systems themselves and the missiles for them, as Russian air attacks have only intensified.

At the same time, demand for missiles has increased not only because of the war in Ukraine. Mutual strikes between Iran, Israel and the United States have also led to the active use of air defense systems, due to which stocks of interceptors began to decrease rapidly. Against this background, Western manufacturers are trying to increase the pace of production and make missiles more affordable.

It was previously reported that the United States has begun the process of granting Ukraine a license to produce missiles for Patriot systems , moving this issue from the political plane to practical implementation.

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