We are talking about putting Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptor missiles on Navy ships.
The US Navy intends to equip some of its ships with Patriot air defense interceptor missiles amid fears that China will deploy hypersonic weapons to sink ships in the Pacific Ocean. This was reported by Reuters in connection with a contact in the American defense industry.
We are talking about putting Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptor missiles, which are mainly used by the US Army, on Navy ships. Thus, the US military wants to get ahead of China’s development in missile technology, including the use of highly maneuverable hypersonic weapons.
According to the publication, the integration of Lockheed Martin interceptor missiles in ship missile defense comes against the backdrop of tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, as China is rapidly modernizing its army, as well as after the successful work of the Patriot missile defense in Ukraine. and the Middle East.
Tom Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said it is not known how many PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles the US Navy will need, but the overall need for them is huge.
According to him, foreign governments are now very interested in these interceptor missiles and the US Army wants to double their production in the next few years.
The US has chosen Japan, a key ally, as the location for joint production of Patriot missiles, and Lockheed Martin plans to build a new production line for the homing heads in Florida, the sources said.
PAC-3 MSE has already shot down hypersonic maneuver missiles in Ukraine.
The US Navy estimates that the interceptor missiles could add another layer of protection to its missile defense systems, which have not yet been tested in combat with such a hypersonic weapon. The PAC-3 MSE projectile itself weighs about 300 kg, and the cost of one missile is four million dollars.
Recall that the United States and Japan are jointly developing a new missile capable of intercepting hypersonic weapons. The overall project is called the Glide Phase Interceptor.
Earlier it was reported that the US authorities requested permission from Japan to deploy its own Tomahawk hypersonic missiles on its territory to ensure the balance of power between Japan and China.
Source: korrespondent
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