A Lockheed Martin PAC-3 missile (Patriot Advanced Capability) successfully intercepted an incoming target on November 19, 2015, as part of a US Army-led missile defense flight test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA.
The PAC-3 interceptor successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a Patriot-as-a-Target (PAAT), which is a legacy Patriot missile modified to represent a tactical ballistic missile commonly found in today’s operational environment.
The intercept is the second successful PAC-3 test in just under a week. On November 12, a PAC-3 also intercepted an airborne target as part of the US Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) fight test at White Sands.
The PAC-3 missile is a high-velocity interceptor that defends against incoming threats including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft using hit-to-kill technology.
PAC-3 currently provides missile defense capabilities for six nations – the USA, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan; and Lockheed Martin is on contract for PAC-3 with four additional nations – Kuwait, Qatar, South Korea and Saudi Arabia
December 3, 2015
