Article Posted on : - Mar 03, 2011

The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) had successfully intercepted a threat representative tactical ballistic missile target at White Sands Missile Range, N.M On February, 17, 2010. A Lockheed photo

DALLAS (BNS): Lockheed Martin has conducted the second successful test of an advanced version of the combat-proven Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile system.

The upgraded missile – the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) – successfully intercepted a threat representative tactical ballistic missile target in the MSE battlespace at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico Wednesday.

This was the second successful test-firing of the improved missile system. It had undergone a similar test in February 2010.

The PAC-3 MSE missile, an improvement over the PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI) missile in terms of range, performance and altitude, incorporates threat-driven and technology-enabled hardware and software upgrades to defend against the advancing threat set, according to Lockheed.

“We continue to test the PAC-3 MSE Missile at higher altitudes and against more challenging targets, and it continues to meet expectations,” said Richard McDaniel, director of PAC-3 Missile Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

“We look forward to delivering this important enhanced capability to the warfighter in the near future,” the official said.

The PAC-3 MSE missile features a larger, more powerful rocket motor for increased thrust, along with larger fins and other structural modifications for more agility. The modifications extend the missile’s reach by up to 50 percent, according to Lockheed.

The larger fins, which will 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 manufacturer said.

Under the PAC-3 MSE programme, the company has been contracted to develop the new missile. The programme included flight software, flight testing, modification and qualification of subsystems, production planning and tooling, and support for full Patriot system integration.

The flight test programme included one controlled test flight and two guided intercept tests against threat representative tactical ballistic missiles.

The long-range PAC-3 surface-to-air missile system, deployed with the US Army, is capable of tracking and shooting down incoming missiles. Equipped with a ‘hit-to-kill’ interceptor, the missile can take on tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft.