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Lockheed unveils cheaper PAC-3 ACE Patriot interceptor to counter drones
Lockheed said the PAC-3 ACE missile would cost less than half of PAC-3 MSE interceptors, which run at about US$4 million per missile.
Lockheed Martin announced a lower-cost Patriot interceptor, the PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector, as militaries look for more affordable ways to counter drones and missiles, Reuters reports. The company said the new missile would cost less than half as much as its PAC-3 MSE interceptors, which are listed at roughly US$4 million per missile in US Army budget documents.
Lockheed said initial production could begin within 36 months, and that it plans to develop and manufacture the weapon with US and European industry partners. The announcement came at Britain’s Farnborough Airshow.
The timing reflects competition in the air defense market, as some startups pursue low-cost weapons that can be produced at scale, while European governments also seek to reduce dependence on American suppliers. Reuters notes the Patriot system has been among the most sought-after air-defense weapons since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.