US ⁤Navy to Deploy Patriot Interceptor Missile System ⁣on Warships Amid‌ China’s Hypersonic Missile Threat

The​ US Navy is preparing to deploy the Patriot Advanced Missile Segment Enhancement-3 (PAC-3 MSE) system on‌ warships due to concerns over⁤ China’s advanced missile technology, particularly⁣ hypersonic missiles that can⁤ change direction quickly.

The move ⁢comes as the Indo-Pacific conflict intensifies, with the Chinese⁣ military upgrading and developing its capabilities, ⁤including the successful deployment of missile defense systems in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Increasing Demand for Air⁣ Defense Systems

Tom Carago, a missile expert at the Center⁣ for Strategic and International⁣ Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC, notes that the​ demand for ⁤air defense systems⁣ like the ​PAC-3 has “skyrocketed” with⁤ foreign governments interested in buying ‍large numbers, prompting ​the US Army to plan to double production ⁣capacity within the next few years.

The United States has ⁢contacted Japan to be the location of the ⁢joint production work of the Patriot system, while Lockheed​ Martin plans to​ open a new production line in Florida.

PAC-3 System‌ Capabilities

The PAC-3 system has ⁤been proven capable of destroying‌ hypersonic missiles sent by Russia to attack Ukraine, making it a potential ⁢supplement ⁢to the existing anti-missile system. However, it has never been tested on a real battlefield to see if it ⁣can‌ withstand hypersonic weapons.

The US Navy plans to conduct further tests, including launching the PAC-3 MSE from ⁢a ship and establishing communications with the‍ SPY-1 radar, the main⁢ sensor of the Aegis missile system.

China’s⁤ Hypersonic Missile Threat

China has ‌developed a ‍number of high-performance ‍anti-ship missiles, including the DF-21D “carrier killer” and anti-ship warheads for use with⁤ medium-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs). The‌ Chinese DF-27 missile is estimated to‌ have a range of up ​to 8,000 kilometers and appears to‍ be ⁣using an aerodynamically designed ⁢warhead to avoid enemy defenses⁤ or attack ⁢targets more⁣ accurately.

Source: Reuters