Article Posted on : - Apr 16, 2013

PAC-3 missile. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

DALLAS (BNS): Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 Missile has successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a tactical ballistic missile (TBM) in a Lower Tier Project Office flight test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

On 12 April, two PAC-3 Missiles were ripple-fired in the test per current doctrine. The first interceptor destroyed the target and the second PAC-3 Missile self-destructed as planned, Lockheed said.

Mission objectives were focused on reducing risk for a flight test of the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) scheduled later this year, it added.

As the most technologically advanced missile for the PATRIOT air defence system, PAC-3 significantly increases the PATRIOT system's firepower, allowing 16 PAC-3 missiles to be loaded in place of just four legacy PATRIOT PAC-2 missiles on the launcher.

"Today's flight test provided us the opportunity to demonstrate the PAC-3 Missile against a challenging TBM target," Richard McDaniel, vice president of PAC-3 Missile programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, was quoted as saying.

"Our preliminary data indicate that all objectives were achieved."