Ramona Adams
The U.S. Army has completed the last of four developmental tests for the Post Deployment Build 8 configuration of Raytheon‘s Patriot Integrated Air and Missile Defense system.
Raytheon said Friday the PDB-8 Patriot system worked to detect, track and engage a cruise missile target and a fighter aircraft with the Guidance Enhanced Missile TBM and the Lockheed Martin-built PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors, respectively, during the test.
“Using an interceptor mix to destroy different threats is cost-effective and provides commanders with operational flexibility,” said Ralph Acaba, vice president of Raytheon’s integrated air and missile defense unit.
He added the latest test keeps Patriot’s PDB-8 upgrade on track for deployment in 2018.
The PDB-8 upgrade effort, backed by a 13-nation Patriot partnership, works to integrate PAC-3 MSE features into the missile defense system and builds on lessons from combat missions among five nations, 1,400 flight tests and more than 3,000 ground tests.
According to Lockheed, PAC-3 MSE is designed to provide an updated support system as well as larger dual-pulse solid rocket motor and control fins for the PAC-3 missile.
PAC-3 missiles employ hit-to-kill technology built to engage various threats such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft, Lockheed added.
