Spain to buy the latest Patriot missiles and other weapons from the US for $ 2.8 billion

Spain has signed an agreement with the United States to purchase Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and related support equipment.

Here's What We Know

In October last year, the US State Department approved a $2.8bn sale, including 51 PAC-3 missiles, 24 M903 launchers and four AN/MPQ-65 radars. This makes Spain the 16th partner country for the latest version of the PAC-3.

The acquisition will enhance Madrid's capabilities against new air threats such as tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles.

"At Lockheed Martin, we are committed to helping our customers stay ahead of new, highly contested threats," said Brian Kubik, vice president of PAC-3 programmes.

Flashback

The Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile is the primary US missile defence system designed to defend against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and airborne threats. The missile is equipped with high-precision radar guidance to ensure reliable interception. The PAC-3 has advanced command and control systems that allow it to track and destroy multiple targets simultaneously. This system is used by many countries around the world, including Germany, Japan and Israel.

Source: Lockheed Martin