Record Production of Patriot Missiles Struggles to Keep Pace with Growing Demand
American defense companies are producing Patriot interceptors at record rates, but demand for them is growing so rapidly that even these production volumes cannot fully meet demand, The Gaze reports, citing Business Insider.
Given the growing strain on air defense systems due to the active use of missiles in various regions, as well as the depletion of stocks in Western Europe and the US, the demand for effective air defense systems is growing significantly in the context of global security challenges.
Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing have already ramped up production of launchers, missiles, and homing heads, but demand has also increased.
To illustrate, last year, the US Army signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to increase annual production of PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles for Patriot to 650 units, whereas a few years ago this figure was 350. At the same time, Boeing and Raytheon are also stepping up production of key system components to meet growing demand.
According to estimates by Fabian Hoffmann, an expert on air defense and missiles at the University of Oslo, global annual production of Patriot missiles is estimated at approximately 850-880 units per year and could reach 1,130 by 2027.
It is reported that in order to reliably destroy a single threat, the Patriot system usually needs to launch several interceptors, creating a complex problem due to the imbalance between demand and supply.
"Lockheed Martin recognizes the critical need for PAC-3 MSE, and we're working closely with the US Army and suppliers to increase our production rate to meet the worldwide demand,” said Brian Kubik, vice president of PAC-3 programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
Raytheon has also strengthened its cooperation with partners, increased its workforce, and invested nearly $1 billion to accelerate Patriot radar production, planning to reduce delivery times by 25% by the end of 2025 and increase production of GEM-T interceptor missiles by 150% by 2028.
Despite the large-scale increase in the production of Patriot interceptor missiles in the West, experts warn that this will not solve all the problems with air defense in Europe.
The threat extends far beyond Russia. The Pentagon is closely monitoring China's growing arsenal of ballistic missiles and recognizes the need for powerful air defense. At the same time, the danger in the Middle East remains relevant.
As Thomas Laliberte, Raytheon's president of ground and air defense systems, points out, the production of these systems is a long process: “It takes us 12 months to build a Patriot radar, but it takes us 24 months to get all the parts.”
Despite assurances from the Pentagon that the US has sufficient stocks to carry out its missions, officials acknowledge tensions in Patriot missile stocks due to high demand and active conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions. Military experts emphasize that current arsenals are being depleted, and the production and delivery of missiles takes time, making it difficult to simultaneously meet urgent needs and replenish stocks.
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