PAC-3 Edge: Lockheed Martin unveils the new Patriot interceptor

Lockheed Martin unveiled the PAC-3 Edge on Friday, October 9, 2026, the new air-defence missile it is proposing for the Patriot system. It is the company’s offer for the US Army’s Future Interceptor programme, which is looking for a successor to the PAC-3 MSE, the most modern missile in the Patriot family today.

According to the company’s announcement, issued from Dallas, the PAC-3 Edge is intended to counter hypersonic and other advanced missile threats. It builds on the combat-proven PAC-3 MSE technology and adds a new seeker, a new rocket motor and an upgraded flight-control system.

Testing in 2027, fielding in 2031

The Future Interceptor programme is in a competitive phase. Lockheed Martin says the US Army has advanced it to the next stage of development. Tim Cahill, president of the company’s Missiles and Fire Control business, told Breaking Defense that Lockheed is one of two companies selected. He did not name the other, and the Army did not respond to the outlet’s request for information.

The company plans to begin testing the PAC-3 Edge in 2027, with a first deployment in 2031. A full-scale model is to be shown on Monday, October 12, at the Association of the US Army (AUSA) conference in Washington.

What changes compared with the PAC-3 MSE

Lockheed Martin points to three main changes:

• New seeker: built in-house by Lockheed Martin and designed at the company’s Strigo Product Center, where it says it has already invested $250 million in the new seeker technology. Cahill said the company plans to invest about $800 million in the seeker overall, so that it can also be used in other offensive and defensive systems.
• New rocket motor: a multi-pulse solid-propellant motor designed by Northrop Grumman. According to Cahill it is a three-pulse motor, against two on the PAC-3 MSE, intended to deliver greater range and intercept altitude.
• Upgraded flight-control system: adds performance in both range and altitude.

“PAC-3 Edge will be longer ranged. It’ll be higher altitude. It’ll be more capable to take on targets that are trying to hide,” Cahill told Breaking Defense. “It’ll have greater sensitivity in its seeker. It’ll have greater capability to maneuver and to respond to threats.”

According to the company, the PAC-3 Edge is designed to integrate with the Army’s existing and future air and missile defence capabilities: the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), the M903 launcher, containerised launchers and the HIMARS Flex. It is the newest member of the PAC-3 family, after the PAC-3 CRI, the PAC-3 MSE and the cheaper PAC-3 ACE.

Lockheed Martin says it has already put “between $50 [million] and $100 million or better” of its own money into the missile, in Cahill’s words, and will invest hundreds of millions more. The PAC-3 Edge will be built on the PAC-3 production line in Camden, Arkansas, where the company is already ramping up MSE output under an agreement with the Pentagon to triple interceptor production over the next seven years.

From LTFI to Future Interceptor

The US Army has been looking for a new Patriot interceptor for years. In 2024 it announced plans to cancel the Lower-Tier Future Interceptor (LTFI) programme, in which Raytheon and Lockheed Martin were competing. A year later, in October 2025, Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, then the Army’s program executive officer for missiles and space, indicated that the programme could move forward after all.

Earlier in 2026 Lockheed Martin also announced the PAC-3 ACE, a cheaper and less capable version of the MSE aimed at international customers.

For the Greek configuration of the Patriot, its missiles and modernisation options, see Geopolitiki’s analysis of Greece’s Patriot batteries.