Lockheed Martin on Oct. 9 introduced PAC-3 Edge, a new interceptor it is offering in the U.S. Army's Future Interceptor program, a competition that is still underway. The company said the missile builds on its PAC-3 MSE and is meant to counter hypersonic weapons and other advanced missile threats.
According to the company, the Army has advanced Lockheed Martin to the next stage of development in the program. Lockheed Martin said it will keep developing PAC-3 Edge and start testing it in 2027, aiming to have it ready for rapid deployment by 2031.
The interceptor uses a new seeker built by Lockheed Martin and designed at the company's Strigo Product Center, where the company said it has invested $250 million in seeker technology. Northrop Grumman designed the missile's multi-pulse solid-fuel rocket motor, and Lockheed Martin said it also upgraded the control systems to improve performance at longer distances and greater altitudes.
The company said PAC-3 Edge is intended to widen the Army's air and missile defense coverage against aircraft, missiles and hypersonic threats flying higher and farther away, and to add another layer to the Army's existing defenses. It is designed to work with the Army's Integrated Battle Command System, the M903 launcher, containerized launchers and HIMARS Flex.
The new missile joins a PAC-3 family that already includes the PAC-3 ACE, PAC-3 CRI and PAC-3 MSE. Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said PAC-3 Edge delivers "even greater maneuverability, power and velocity" than the PAC-3 MSE.
