Lockheed Martin received a $379 million contract from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command for the production of 112 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles. The contract also includes launcher modification kits, program management and engineering, as well as spares and other necessary equipment, Dallas Business News reported Tuesday.

The PAC-3 missile is currently the world's only fielded hit-to-kill, pure kinetic energy air defense missile. Production of all equipment will take place at Lockheed Martin manufacturing facilities in Dallas and Lufkin, Texas, and the PAC-3 All-Up Round facility in Camden, Ariz., the report said.

"The PAC-3 Missile has proven hit-to-kill lethality and is the world's most advanced, capable air defense missile, so we're pleased to provide this powerful system to the U.S. Army," Richard McDaniel, director of the PAC-3 Missile Program at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, told DBN. "The battle-proven PAC-3 Missile enables the PAC-3 system to deliver unprecedented levels of protection to U.S. warfighters and our friends and allies."

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is the 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 canister, which holds four PAC-3 missiles; a Fire Solution Computer; and an Enhanced Launcher Electronics System, Dallas Business News said.

Over the past 12 years, the PAC-3 Missile has achieved the most successful flight test record of any U.S. missile defense interceptor.

The 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, evolving cruise missiles and fixed and rotary winged aircraft. PAC-3 missiles significantly increase the Patriot system's firepower, since 16 PAC-3s load-out on a Patriot launcher, compared with four legacy Patriot PAC-2 missiles.

The PAC-3 missile has been selected as the U.S. primary interceptor for the multi-national Medium Extended Air Defense System, or MEADS, a model transatlantic program for 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 as the primary interceptor.

Source: United Press International