US Sets Sights on Hypersonic Threat: Patriot System to be Deployed on Warships in Bid to Counter China’s Cutting-Edge Missiles
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
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