Lockheed Martin [LMT] yesterday said it received a $68.9 million contract to prepare the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile production line for the introduction of the Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) version of the combat-proven PAC-3 Missile. 

The contract provides funds for PAC-3 MSE-specific tooling and test equipment at the company’s Camden, Ark., facility, as well as other sites and subcontractors in anticipation of an Army production decision in 2013. PAC-3 MSE production will be done at the Camden site.

 “The PAC-3 MSE is a true spiral development that will enable a very capable interceptor to grow to the requirements of defeating new and evolving threats,” said Richard McDaniel, vice president for PAC-3 Missile programs at Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business. “These enhancements will assure the PAC-3 Missile Segment will be capable of defeating these threats far into the future.”

The PAC-3 MSE missile provides increased performance, greater altitude and range than the PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative Missile. The PAC-3 Missile is the only Patriot missile that uses hit-to-kill technology to engage incoming targets.

In March 2011, the PAC-3 MSE conducted a successful test and first ripple fire of two missiles at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. (Defense Daily, March 3, 2011).

The PAC-3 MSE missile will be packaged in a single, stackable canister to provide flexibility for the Patriot air defense system launcher load-out requirements.

In September 2006, the PAC-3 MSE missile was selected as the primary interceptor for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). In November 2011, the PAC-3 MSE missile successfully conducted a unique over-the-shoulder launch from the MEADS launcher at White Sands (Defense Daily, Nov. 18).

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is the prime contractor on the PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system. The PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade consists of the highly agile hit-to-kill PAC-3 missile, the PAC-3 missile canisters–in four packs–a fire solution computer and an Enhanced Launcher Electronics System (ELES). These elements will be integrated into the Patriot system.