U.S. Tests Upgraded Patriot Missile Interceptor

U.S. defense contractors conducted a successful flight test of an upgraded Patriot missile interceptor at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Raytheon announced yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 11, 2003).

The test was the second live-fire exercise involving the Missile Segment Enhancement version of the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 interceptor.

“This test demonstrated the Patriot Configuration-3 flexibility to integrate new and evolving interceptors and expand the Patriot battlespace with minimal software and hardware changes to the ground system," said Raytheon Vice President Sanjay Kapoor in a press release (Raytheon release, June 4).

Lockheed Martin is producing the new version of the missile, with Raytheon serving as systems integrator.

The upgrades are designed to improve the interceptor’s range by 50 percent and give it greater maneuverability when trying to destroy ballistic missiles heading toward their targets, according to Lockheed Martin (Lockheed Martin fact sheet, 2003).

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