Overview
- Lockheed publicly revealed the PAC‑3 Edge at the Association of the U.S. Army meeting on Monday as its entry in the Army’s Future Interceptor competition.
- The company says the missile adds a new radar seeker, attitude‑control motors near the nose, and a multi‑pulse solid rocket motor with a third pulse to extend range and maneuverability.
- Lockheed says the PAC‑3 Edge can be launched from existing Patriot M903 and containerized launchers and from a HIMARS FLEX launcher, and that it is designed to integrate with the Army’s IBCS command‑and‑control.
- The firm plans to begin flight testing in 2027 and is aiming for a small residual operational capability by about 2031 while seeking to accelerate that schedule, but the Army has not published budgets, quantities, or a formal selection timeline.
- Lockheed funded seeker work through its Strigo center and is working with Northrop Grumman on the motor, yet the company has not released specific performance numbers or per‑unit cost and faces lower‑cost competitors seeking to scale production.