The State Department this week approved a possible $501 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 64 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles to South Korea.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the sale on Thursday.

A PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile test is conducted at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. as part of a flight test for the U.S. Army. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
A PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile test is conducted at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. as part of a flight test for the U.S. Army. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

The Korean PAC-3 MSE request also includes two PAC-MSE Test Missiles, range and test programs, technical documentations, training equipment, spare parts, and other associated logistics and program support.

The primary contractor will be Lockheed Martin [LMT], producer of the missile.

DSCA said South Korea would use the Patriot missiles to improve its missile defense capability, defends its territorial integrity, and deter threats.

This will also allow the South Korean military to help shield allies who train and operate within the country borders, the agency said.