A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile successfully intercepted a tactical ballistic missile during a U.S. Army test Thursday in the second operational test of the PAC-3 system (see GSN, Feb. 5), according to Lockheed Martin (PR Newswire, March 21).

The Army launched a Hera ballistic missile target from Fort Wingate yesterday morning and fired two PAC-3 missiles from the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, to intercept the Hera (Associated Press, March 21).

The Army simultaneously launched a PAC-2 missile against a drone aircraft in order to test the system’s ability to choose the correct missile for the correct target.  The PAC-3 missile uses a hit-to-kill warhead designed to destroy missile targets, and the PAC-2 missile uses a blast fragmentation warhead designed to destroy aircraft.

Both parts of the test were successful.  “The Hera target was engaged and destroyed by a PAC-3 missile, and a PAC-2 engaged and destroyed the subscale drone target,” the Army said (Agence France-Presse, March 21).

“The PAC-3 missile is proven, fielded technology,” said Mike Trotsky, vice president of Air Defense Programs for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.  “There are no other fielded interceptors that have PAC-3’s power to negate ballistic missiles armed with weapons of mass destruction, as well as cruise missiles and other air threats” (PR Newswire).

Developers have planned two more tests, which are expected to conclude next month, as part of the initial operation test and evaluation for the PAC-3 system (Associated Press).

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