US Department of Defense Triples Patriot Missile Seeker Production

The United States Department of Defense established a seven-year framework agreement with Boeing and Lockheed Martin to triple the production capacity of seekers for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) system. This initiative supports a concurrent arrangement with Lockheed Martin to more than triple the output of PAC-3 MSE all-up rounds to meet rising demand driven by geopolitical risks.

This expansion is a central component of the Arsenal of Freedom push initiated by President Donald Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth. The strategy aims to accelerate the delivery of critical defense capabilities and create thousands of jobs within the defense industrial base. It is part of a broader Acquisition Transformation Strategy designed to remove supply chain chokepoints through direct engagement with suppliers across all tiers.

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey stated that the agreement focuses on speed, volume, and resiliency to ensure the industrial base can deliver capabilities at scale. He characterized the partnership as essential to building a true Arsenal of Freedom by strengthening every link in the supply chain.