The US Army intends to upgrade and streamline its Patriot fire units with configuration-3 capability, comprising an affordable missile guidance system which improves performance and overcome the original system’s obsolescence. This configuration will be integrated throughout the units deployed worldwide, as part of the “Pure Fleet” effort launched in 2006.
Three battalions are currently undergoing preliminary tests prior to obtaining “Pure Fleet” capabilities. Testing will be conducted by Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), the prime contractor for the Patriot system and the system integrator for the PAC-3 configuration received a $38.6 million Army contract to provide increased capability for warfighters now using the Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) configuration. The contract is for test equipment upgrades and engineering as the first step in the upgrade of three Patriot battalions (12 fire units) from PAC-2 to the PAC-3 configuration.
