2006 Updates: Keeping Patriots in Shape

Patriot system(click for explanation) In a September 2005 article, DID covered total awards under a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Patriot anti-air missile system engineering services, along with dates/amounts of each award in FY 2004-2005. We’ve brought that list forward, and we’ll be updating it as new FY 2006 engineering services contracts roll in. We’ll also use this post as an updated hub for other Patriot SAM related contracts in calendar year 2006. Following are the engineering support contract listings from 2004-present, and other contracts and key events related to the Patriot missile. Related material include FY/CY 2007 coverage and other 2006 contracts and key events. Patriot Missile Engineering Services Contracts Patriot PAC-3 test launch(click to view full) The current US standard for new Patriot Missiles is the PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability 3). While the PAC-3 missile is as long as previous versions, it’s thinner and weighs only 30% as much (688 vs. 2,000 pounds) because it uses a “hit-to-kill” approach instead of the PAC-2’s large fragmentation warhead. The PAC-3 thus packs more missiles per launcher (16 instead of 4), and its enhanced capabilities allow it to be used for point defense against ballistic missiles. MissileThreat notes that in 2002 Raytheon completed […]