Patriot Advanced Capability-Three (PAC-3) The First Deployable Hit-to-Kill Technology

The U.S. Army is upgrading its PATRIOT Air Defense Missile System with hit-to-kill technology. The improvements of the launching station, enagement control station and the addition of a hit-to-kill guided missile interceptor are managed under the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 PAC-3 Missile Segment Program, now three years into its development contract. PAC-3 uses an extremely accurate on-board seeker and guidance system and an agile attitude control system to achieve a direct hit by the interceptor on the target. The hit-to-kill concept utilizes kinetic energy as its primary kill mechanism to disintegrate incoming tactical ballistic missiles and their warheads. PAC-3 is being executed within the most advanced defense acquisition reform policies. It uses the Integrated Product and Process Development IPPD concept with governmentcontractor Integrated Product Teams IPT. Streamlining of the establishment of the product baseline has been achieved by mutual agreement on design review scheduling and content. Extensive use of state-of-the-art modeling and simulation as well as exhaustive component testing are in combination the mechanism which is building confidence that the hit-to-kill technology is ready for production and deployment. This will provide substantial advancement in Army Theater Missile Defense TMD Active Defense force dominance.