American and Swiss officials signed agreement to supply Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Section Enhancement (MSE) missiles, the latest variant of the Patriot family.
Switzerland will be the 15th country to use it Lockheed Martinadvanced projectile of.
The decision was made to extend the Swiss Government’s Air2030 modernization program, in which the Armed Forces will renew and upgrade its air defense capabilities.
The most recent development of this initiative was the choice of Lockheed Martin’s F-35A multi-role aircraft to replace the 24 F-5 aircraft it had already procured since 1976, and the 30 F/A-18 Hornet fighters it acquired in the late 1990s.
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From GlobalData
Air2030 includes the Armed Forces’ ground-based missile defense systems (MDS). The PAC-3 MSE contract will provide the existing five Patriot units.
On September 30, 2023, the US Department of State approved a possible foreign military sale of five Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units in a deal worth $2.2 billion (CHF 1.9 billion).
GlobalData’s information shows that Swiss spending on the MIM-104 Patriot MDS will reach $1.8 billion between 2023-33.
As part of the latest deal, original equipment manufacturer Lockheed Martin and Swiss officials also finalized an offset agreement supporting the PAC-3 MSE program.
This deal is the catalyst for several new projects that will support Switzerland’s security-related technology and industrial base as the country tries to maintain its own stockpile as the geopolitical environment worsens.
Why choose the PAC-3 MSE rocket?
The PAC-3 MSE uses a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, providing increased altitude and range performance.
The PAC-3 MSE is a high-speed interceptor that defends against incoming threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, advanced threats, and aircraft. It uses hit-to-kill technology, intercepting threats through kinetic energy through hand-to-hand contact.
The MSE began flight testing in May 2008. In December 2012, the missile destroyed a tactical ballistic missile target at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, USA.
The variant has increased range due to its powerful twin-pulse solid rocket motor for added thrust and larger fins for increased maneuverability against faster and more sophisticated ballistic and cruise missiles.
The PAC-3 MSE program is scaling up production to reach an impressive annual capacity of 550 MSE, with further expansion plans underway. Other applications for the missile include its integration into the Aegis combat system on US Navy ships.
Read the original at Defence247.gr
