The U.S. Navy has embarked on a significant defense upgrade, planning to arm some ships with the highly agile Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors to counter China’s expanding hypersonic weapon capabilities. This defensive measure comes as China accelerates its military modernization, including hypersonic glide vehicles capable of evading current missile defenses and striking ships in the Pacific.
The PAC-3 MSE, renowned for its precision “hit-to-kill” design, is traditionally deployed by the U.S. Army but is now being adapted to Navy specifications to handle the unique challenges of high-speed, maneuverable threats. Integrating these interceptors with the Aegis missile defense system poses technical challenges, requiring thorough testing for seamless operation on naval vessels. This effort is fueled by concerns that Chinese hypersonic missiles could destabilize U.S. strategic defenses in the Indo-Pacific if left unaddressed.
Beyond these advancements, the U.S. is collaborating with Japan to jointly produce PAC-3 MSE missiles, anticipating a significant increase in demand for these defense systems. This move follows a series of successful missile defense collaborations in Ukraine and the Middle East, where these interceptors have already proven effective.
Sources:
- Economic Times: Fearing China’s hypersonic weapons, US Navy seeks to arm ships with Patriot missiles
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