White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico – August 18, 2025 – In a high-stakes display of next-gen defense tech, Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) just proved it can intercept threats from any direction—yes, full 360-degree coverage.
In the recent flight test, PAC-3 MSE successfully knocked out an airborne threat by using data fed from the powerful Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS)—specifically via its secondary sector. This marks a landmark moment in deploying truly omnidirectional missile defense under the U.S. Army’s modern Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) architecture.
“PAC-3 continues to surprise us with its advanced, dependable performance—even in increasingly complex environments,” said Brian Kubik, VP of PAC-3 Programs at Lockheed Martin. “Now, with 360-degree coverage, soldiers can defend from any angle.”
There’s high demand for this capability—Lockheed Martin expects to deliver over 600 PAC-3 MSE units in 2025, hitting record production levels and partnering closely with the U.S. Army to speed up deliveries globally.
Extra Insights & Context
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| LTAMDS Role | Raytheon’s LTAMDS radar delivers full 360° detection and tracking, bridging high-altitude and low-flying threats using a central panel and side arrays. |
| Prior PAC-3 Advancements | A July 8, 2025, test introduced enhanced PAC-3 MSE features like upgraded software and seeker algorithms to counter air-breathing threats. |
| RIG-360 Link | The Remote Interceptor Guidance-360 (RIG-360) prototype, tested in 2022, allowed communication with a PAC-3 missile in flight—another path toward full 360° engagement. |
| Historical Evolution | PAC-3 began testing in 1997, achieved combat readiness by 2002, and PAC-3 MSE entered full-rate production in 2018. Its hit-to-kill design vastly improved its efficacy and defended area. |
| MEADS 360° Precursor | The MEADS system integrated PAC-3 MSE to deliver all-around defense, achieving the first “over-the-shoulder” launch in 2012. |
