Today at 18:04
The US Army plans to spend more than $1.3 billion on Patriot missiles in the fiscal year that begins on October 1, and has increased its overall plan to purchase these air defense weapons, which have proven critical to both Ukraine and US forces in the Middle East.
This is reported by Bloomberg, Ukrinform reports.
According to the documents accompanying the budget request for fiscal year 2026, on April 16, a group of senior Army officials who formulate recommendation requirements for weapons increased the Patriot procurement plan from 3,376 to 13,773 units. The commission generates requirements, but this does not mean that they automatically translate into specific budget figures or contracts. Lawmakers are drafting funding bills for the Defense Ministry that could take these projections into account.
The publication notes that the new figure shows that demand for Patriot missiles is growing. The newest model, the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement or PAC-3 MSE, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp. can intercept drones, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles. The solid rocket engine for the missile is supplied by L3Harris Technologies Inc.
Army budget documents show that 2,047 PAC-3 MSE missiles have been procured through fiscal year 2024, with another 230 in 2024 and 214 this year.
The Army has requested $945.9 million to buy 224 missiles in 2026 – $549.6 million from the base budget and $396.3 million to support Operation Atlantic Resolve, which is designed to bolster NATO’s defense in Europe. The tax and spending bill signed by US President Donald Trump last week allocates billions more for defense and will add $366 million to buy 96 more interceptor missiles, according to the documents.
“After years of diagnosing a shortage of munitions and interceptors, we finally have a prescription – and quadrupling the number of Patriot interceptors makes perfect sense,” said Tom Caraco, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Read also: Hughes didn’t inform Trump of decision to suspend arms sales to Ukraine – CNN
Army spokesman Steve Warren told reporters on Tuesday that the Army has been steadily funding production for years, but “ramping up production is challenging.”
In March, Lockheed Martin said that its “PAC-3 production team significantly increased production volumes and reached new record levels” last year, delivering 500 missiles.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump is considering giving Ukraine an additional Patriot air defense system after he recently promised to strengthen Kyiv against Russian attacks.
