US Company Raytheon to upgrade German Patriot missiles to MSE standard.

American Company Raytheon is upgrading Germany's Patriot Integrated Air and Missile Defense System to the most current configuration, the PAC-3 MSE under a $105.5 million direct commercial sales contract from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. The contract award was first announced on Raytheon's earnings call on July 25th, 2019.

PAC-3 MSE missile at MSPO defense exhibition in Poland, September 2017. (Picture source Army Recognition)

"This upgrade ensures that Germany's air and missile defense remains current until at least 2035," said Tom Laliberty, Raytheon vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense.

The contract comes shortly after the Defense and Budget Committees of the German Federal Parliament approved the upgrade, ensuring Germany remains aligned with five other EU and NATO allies that rely on Patriot for their air and missile defense.

Currently, the German army uses the Patriot PAC-3 air defense missile systems that were delivered by the United States between 2008-2010 according to the  SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ) Arms Trade Database.

On July 15, 2019, The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Germany of Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missiles Segment Enhanced (MSE) with support for an estimated cost of $401 million. 

The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) is an evolution of the battle-proven PAC-3 Missile. The hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE provides performance enhancements that counter evolving threat advancements. The enhancements ensure the PAC-3 Missile Segment of the PATRIOT Air Defense System is capable of engaging new and evolving threats. The hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile is the world’s most advanced, and capable theater air defense missile and defender against the entire threat to the PATRIOT Air Defense System: Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBMs) carrying weapons of mass destruction, evolving cruise missiles and aircraft.

The PAC-3 MSE design utilizes the latest technology to significantly increase performance. The PAC-3 MSE incorporates a larger, dual pulse solid rocket motor; larger fins; and upgraded actuators and thermal batteries to accommodate increased performance. The modifications extend the missile’s reach.

The PAC-3 MSE is packaged in a single canister that stacks to provide logistical flexibility. Twelve individual PAC-3 MSE Missiles can be loaded on a PATRIOT Launcher or a combination of six MSEs and eight PAC-3 Missiles (two four packs) can be loaded.