Lockheed Martin received a $68.9 million contract to prepare the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile production line for the introduction of the Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) version of the combat-proven PAC-3 Missile.

The facilitization contract provides funding for PAC-3 MSE-specific tooling and test equipment at the company's Camden, Ark., facility, as well as other sites and subcontractors in anticipation of a production decision by the U.S. Army in 2013.

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting agency.

"The PAC-3 MSE is a true spiral development that will enable a very capable interceptor to grow to the requirements of defeating new and evolving threats," said Richard McDaniel, vice president for PAC-3 Missile programs at Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business.

"These enhancements will assure the PAC-3 Missile Segment will be capable of defeating these threats far into the future."

The PAC-3 MSE Missile provides increased performance, greater altitude and range than the PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative Missile. The PAC-3 Missile is the only Patriot missile that utilizes hit-to-kill technology to engage incoming targets.

The PAC-3 MSE Missile will be packaged in a single canister that stacks to provide flexibility for the Patriot air defense system launcher load-out requirements. The PAC-3 MSE Missile was selected as the primary interceptor for the multi-national MEADS in September 2006.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is prime contractor on the PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system.

The PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade consists of the highly agile hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile, the PAC-3 Missile canisters (in four packs), a fire solution computer and an Enhanced Launcher Electronics System (ELES). These elements will be integrated into the Patriot system.