US Navy to Equip Ships with Patriot Missiles to Counter China's Hypersonic Weapons
Concerned about China's hypersonic weapons in the Pacific, the US Navy will integrate Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 MSE interceptors into its Aegis Combat System, marking the first time Patriot missiles will be deployed on surface ships.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 09:02
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 09:31 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 12:51 (3h 19m after Collected)
Central News
(CNA, Washington, 21st, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) The U.S. Navy, concerned about China's deployment of hypersonic weapons in the Pacific, plans to equip its ships with the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptor. This will be the first time Patriot missiles are used on surface vessels.
According to Reuters, Lockheed Martin has secured a contract to integrate the Patriot missile interceptor system, traditionally used by the Army, into the U.S. Navy's Aegis Combat System. Lockheed stated that this marks the first surface deployment of Patriot missiles, which will further strengthen the missile defense network of the Navy's destroyer fleet.
Lockheed Martin has been actively pushing for this integration for years, and the new contract is the first concrete step toward deploying Army interceptors on Navy surface ships.
This decision has been years in the making. According to a 2024 Reuters report, the PAC-3 is more flexible than existing naval interceptor systems. Its "hit to kill" principle—meaning the missile directly collides with the target rather than exploding near it—is particularly advantageous for intercepting high-speed, maneuverable ballistic missiles.
The PAC-3 MSE can also provide an additional layer of protection for warships equipped with the Aegis system, which currently rely primarily on Standard Missiles (SM-2, SM-3, SM-6) and RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles for interception missions.
Demand for Patriot missiles has surged. According to a contract signed between Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Department of Defense in January this year, the annual production of this type of missile will increase from about 600 units to over 2,000 units over the next seven years. (Translated by Chu Hsiang-ping) 1150422
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(CNA, Washington, 21st, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) The U.S. Navy, concerned about China's deployment of hypersonic weapons in the Pacific, plans to equip its ships with the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptor. This will be the first time Patriot missiles are used on surface vessels.
According to Reuters, Lockheed Martin has secured a contract to integrate the Patriot missile interceptor system, traditionally used by the Army, into the U.S. Navy's Aegis Combat System. Lockheed stated that this marks the first surface deployment of Patriot missiles, which will further strengthen the missile defense network of the Navy's destroyer fleet.
Lockheed Martin has been actively pushing for this integration for years, and the new contract is the first concrete step toward deploying Army interceptors on Navy surface ships.
This decision has been years in the making. According to a 2024 Reuters report, the PAC-3 is more flexible than existing naval interceptor systems. Its "hit to kill" principle—meaning the missile directly collides with the target rather than exploding near it—is particularly advantageous for intercepting high-speed, maneuverable ballistic missiles.
The PAC-3 MSE can also provide an additional layer of protection for warships equipped with the Aegis system, which currently rely primarily on Standard Missiles (SM-2, SM-3, SM-6) and RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles for interception missions.
Demand for Patriot missiles has surged. According to a contract signed between Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Department of Defense in January this year, the annual production of this type of missile will increase from about 600 units to over 2,000 units over the next seven years. (Translated by Chu Hsiang-ping) 1150422
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.