PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE)

Lockheed Martin received a contract for a Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) to the battle-proven Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile. The PAC-3 MSE provides performance enhancements to the missile that will counter evolving threat advancements. The PAC-3 MSE program includes flight software, flight testing, modification and qualification of subsystems, production planning and tooling, and support for full Patriot system integration.

Under the PAC-3 MSE initiative the company incorporated a larger, more powerful motor into the missile for added thrust, along with larger fins and other structural modifications for more agility. The modifications extended the missile's reach by up to 50 percent. The larger fins, which collapse to allow the missile to fit into the current PAC-3 launcher, will give the interceptor more maneuverability against faster and more sophisticated ballistic and cruise missiles.

The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) is an evolution of the battle-proven PAC-3 Missile. The hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE provides performance enhancements that counter evolving threat advancements. The enhancements ensure the PAC-3 Missile Segment of the PATRIOT Air Defense System is capable of engaging new and evolving threats. The hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile is the world’s most advanced, and capable theater air defense missile and defender against the entire threat to the PATRIOT Air Defense System: Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBMs) carrying weapons of mass destruction, evolving cruise missiles and aircraft.

The PAC-3 MSE design utilizes the latest technology to significantly increase performance. The PAC-3 MSE incorporates a larger, dual pulse solid rocket motor; larger fins; and upgraded actuators and thermal batteries to accommodate increased performance. The modifications extends the missile’s reach. The PAC-3 MSE improves upon current PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI) missile capability with a higher performance solid rocket motor, modified lethality enhancer, more responsive control surfaces, upgraded guidance software, and insensitive munitions improvements.

The PAC-3 MSE incorporates a logistical flexibility over that of PAC-3 CRI through a modular single canister. The PAC-3 MSE single canisters are kitted as a two-pack for both the shipping and tactical configuration. Additionally, the PAC-3 MSE single-pack canister design modularity enables field replacement of spent/failed missile(s). There was no increase in PATRIOT operations or maintenance personnel as a result of integrating the PAC-3 MSE enhancements into PATRIOT.

Under the PAC-3 MSE initiative the company incorporated a larger, more powerful motor into the missile for added thrust, along with larger fins and other structural modifications for more agility. The modifications extended the missile’s reach by up to 50 percent. The larger fins, which collapse to allow the missile to fit into the current PAC-3 launcher, give the interceptor more maneuverability against faster and more sophisticated ballistic and cruise missiles.

The MSE upgrade took the Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI) missile design and improves on it with a higher performance, dual pulse, eleven inch diameter Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) design, improved Lethality Enhancer, thermally hardened front end for longer fly out, upgraded batteries, enlarged fixed fins, more responsive control surfaces, and upgraded guidance software. These improvements provide a more agile, lethal interceptor missile, which results in a substantial missile performance improvement while enhancing Insensitive Munitions (IM) compliance. A more IM compliant hydroxy-terminated polyether (HTPE) propellent for the SRM is being developed for the MSE program as well as a less sensitive Lethality Enhancer.

A single canister design was also developed under the MSE contract, which provides the capability to meet the MEADS requirements for single round loading and reconstitution. The MSE missile is being designed so that integration into both the existing four-pack canister design and the single canister design is possible.

These enhancements are the natural, pre-planned evolution of a system that was baselined in 1994. The MSE is a true spiral development that will enable a very capable interceptor to grow to the requirements of defeating new and evolving threats. These enhancements will assure that the PAC-3 Missile Segment of the Patriot Air Defense System will be capable of defeating these threats far into the future.

The ‘hit-to-kill’ PAC-3 Missile is the world’s most advanced, capable and powerful theater air defense missile. It defeats the entire threat to the Patriot Air Defense System: tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) carrying weapons of mass destruction, advanced cruise missiles and aircraft. PAC-3 Missiles significantly increase the Patriot system's firepower, since 16 PAC-3s load-out on a Patriot launcher, compared with four of the older Patriot PAC-2 missiles. The PAC-3 MSE is packaged in a single canister that stacks to provide logistical flexibility. Twelve individual PAC-3 MSE Missiles can be loaded on a PATRIOT Launcher or a combination of six MSEs and eight PAC-3 Missiles (two four packs) can be loaded.

Program

By 2002, it was decided that the Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile, which provides for greater ranges, will be the objective missile for the system. On 23 June 2003 Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $13,000,000 increment as a part of a $260,000,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for missile segment enhancement. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, and was expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2007. Contract funds did not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on June 24, 2003, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., was the contracting activity (DAAH01-03-C-0164).

The flight test program included one controlled test flight and two guided intercept tests against threat representative tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs). All testing was conducted at White Sands Missile Range, NM. These enhancements are the natural, pre-planned evolution of a system that was baselined in 1994. The MSE is a true spiral development that will enable a very capable interceptor to grow to the requirements of defeating new and evolving threats. These enhancements will assure that the PAC-3 Missile Segment of the Patriot Air Defense System will be capable of defeating these threats far into the future.

PAC-3 MSE has completed operational testing and has received approval for initial production. Lockheed Martin received a contract for a Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) to the battle-proven Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile. The PAC-3 MSE provides performance enhancements to the missile that will counter evolving threat advancements. The PAC-3 MSE program included flight software, flight testing, modification and qualification of subsystems, production planning and tooling, and support for full Patriot system integration.

The PAC-3 Missile production rate, authorized in October 2002, includes an FY‘03 production quantity of 100 missiles and 108 missiles in FY‘04. Production rates were ramping up and will continue through the next decade.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is prime contractor on the PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system. The PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade consists of the PAC-3 Missile, a highly agile hit-to-kill interceptor, 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, a high to medium altitude, long-range air defense missile system providing air defense of ground combat forces and high-value assets.

The PAC-3 Missile has been selected as the primary interceptor for the multi-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). Managed by the NATO MEADS Management Agency (NAMEADSMA), MEADS is a model transatlantic development program focused on the next generation of air and missile defense. MEADS will focus on risk reduction, application of key technologies and validation of a system design incorporating the PAC-3 Missile.