Lockheed Martin Tests Patriot PAC-3 MSE Missile Interceptor with AN/SPY-1 Radar for Aegis Shipborne Combat System for the First Time

Lockheed Martin continues to work on integrating Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment interceptors

Enhancement (MSE) to the Aegis combat system. The company recently tested an anti-missile missile with the AN/SPY-1 radar.

What is known

The AN/SPY-1 radar station isa key component of the ship's Aegis combat system. A successful test demonstrated that the PAC-3 MSE missile interceptor could communicate with the AN/SPY-1 radar.

The test was an important step towards a full-fledgedintegration of PAC-3 MSE into the Aegis system. Tom Copeman, Vice President of Naval Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

The PAC-3 MSE will expand the capabilities of the air defense system and increase the effectiveness of intercepting ballistic missiles. Now the Aegis combat system uses Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) anti-missiles.

The key task of the company was the modificationRF data link to establish communication between PAC-3 MSE and AN/SPY. Lockheed Martin upgraded the PAC-3 MSE's dual-band data link to tri-band to allow communication with the S-band radar.

The company is now ramping up production of the PAC-3 MSE to 550 missile interceptors a year. To do this, Lockheed Martin expanded its facility in Camden, Arkansas.