Lockheed Martin integrates Patriot PAC-3 MSE missile into Mk 41 vertical launch system

The U.S. company Lockheed Martin was able to integrate the Patriot PAC-3 MSE missile interceptor into the Mk 41 vertical launch system. A new version of the surface-to-air missile was developed for this purpose.

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The goal is that current and future U.S. Navy (and allied ships) will be able to use the Patriot PAC-3 MSE to intercept enemy ballistic missiles. Integrating an interceptor from the Patriot surface-to-air missile system would significantly expand the capabilities of the Mk 41 system.

The PAC-3 MSE surface-to-air missile came out in 2018. The new version of the interceptor will be compatible with shipboard and ground-based Mk 41 vertical launch systems, providing the capability to destroy enemy aircraft, ballistic and short-range cruise missiles.

The Mk 41 is also manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The vertical launch system has been in service with the U.S. Navy and other countries for the past four decades. It can attack enemy objects with anti-aircraft, cruise and anti-ship missiles.

The fact that Lockheed Martin managed to befriend the Mk 41 and the PAC-3 MSE looks especially appealing against the backdrop of ever-increasing tensions between the United States and China, which pays a lot of attention to ballistic missile development.

It is possible that the PAC-3 MSEs will enter service with the U.S. Army, dramatically expanding its anti-missile capabilities. Now the service is working on special modifications of the Mk 41, which are called Typhoon. They will be able to launch Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of more than 1600 km. The first such system was handed over to the US Army by Lockheed Martin last month.

Source: The Drive