Profile
- Type
- Hit-to-kill Patriot interceptor missile
- Origin
- United States
- Service note
- 1990s-present; PAC-3 MSE in service from the mid-2010s
Air Defense
PAC-3
PAC-3 is the hit-to-kill interceptor family for the Patriot air-defense system, built around active radar homing and direct-impact defeat of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft. The PAC-3 CRI and PAC-3 MSE variants give Patriot batteries a denser missile loadout than PAC-2 rounds, with MSE adding a larger dual-pulse motor and control changes for greater defended battlespace.
Russia-Ukraine WarUkraineUnited States-Iran ConflictUnited StatesYemen Civil WarYemeni government and coalition forces
- Built by
- Lockheed Martin
- Built in
- United States
Service History
- In service
- PAC-3 and PAC-3 MSE interceptors fielded with U.S. and partner Patriot units
- Used by
- U.S. Army, Ukrainian Air Force, Qatar Emiri Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War, United States-Iran Conflict, Yemen Civil War
Production History
- Designer
- Lockheed Martin
- Designed
- PAC-3 family developed from the Patriot missile series; PAC-3 MSE reached first-unit-equipped status in 2015
- Built by
- Lockheed Martin
- Built in
- United States
- Unit cost
- About $3.7 million per PAC-3 interceptor in recent cost estimates
- Produced
- PAC-3 MSE full-rate production from 2018
- Variants
- PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI), PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE)
- Developed from
- MIM-104 Patriot missile family
Specifications
- Role
- Terminal-phase interception of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and air-breathing targets
- Guidance
- Active Ka-band radar seeker with data-link updates from the Patriot fire-control system
- Kill mechanism
- Hit-to-kill direct body-to-body impact with a lethality enhancer
- PAC-3 CRI range
- About 20 km against ballistic missiles
- PAC-3 MSE range
- About 30 km against ballistic missiles
- Launcher loadout
- Up to 16 PAC-3 CRI missiles or 12 PAC-3 MSE missiles on compatible Patriot launchers
- MSE propulsion
- Dual-pulse solid rocket motor with larger fins and upgraded actuators
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Ukraine
Ukraine has received PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air-defense systems, including German-supplied batches used to strengthen defenses against Russian ballistic and hypersonic missile attacks.
- United States-Iran Conflict
- Side: United States
During Iran's June 2025 strike on Al Udeid Air Base, U.S. and Qatari Patriot batteries intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles; reporting identified PAC-3 missile remnants and described PAC-3's role in that defense.
- Yemen Civil War
- Side: Yemeni government and coalition forces
Saudi missile defenses used Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 systems against Houthi missile attacks from Yemen, with Saudi claims of more than 100 Houthi missiles intercepted.
Related Weapon Systems
MIM-104 PatriotLong-range surface-to-air and ballistic missile defense systemThe MIM-104 Patriot is a U.S.-origin, truck-mobile air and missile defense system built around phased-array radar, command-and-control vehicles, launchers, and PAC-2 or PAC-3 interceptor families. Its post-2015 combat record includes Ukrainian defense against Russian missile and air attacks, Saudi-led coalition defense against Houthi ballistic missile launches from Yemen, and U.S. Patriot batteries defending Al Udeid Air Base during Iranian retaliation after Operation Midnight Hammer.
AspideMedium-range surface-to-air missileAspide is an Italian semi-active radar guided missile family used in air-to-air and surface-to-air roles, including SPADA and Skyguard ground-based air defense systems. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Spain transferred an Aspide anti-aircraft missile battery and trained Ukrainian personnel to add another Western medium-range layer to Ukraine's air defense network.
CrotaleShort-range surface-to-air missile systemCrotale is a French short-range surface-to-air missile family built around radar and electro-optical target tracking. The Crotale NG variant paired the VT-1 missile with an integrated launcher, search radar, tracking radar, and optical sensors, making it useful for point defense of forces and fixed sites against low-altitude air threats. France supplied Crotale NG systems to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine War to reinforce layered air defense against Russian missiles, aircraft, helicopters, and drones.
MIM-23 HAWKMedium-range surface-to-air missile systemThe MIM-23 HAWK is a U.S.-origin medium-range surface-to-air missile system built around radar acquisition, target illumination, and semi-active radar-homing missiles. Developed for mobile low- to medium-altitude air defense and repeatedly upgraded after its 1960 fielding, HAWK returned to operational relevance in Ukraine through donated launchers, refurbished missiles, and sustainment support for air-defense fire units.
S-350 VityazMedium-range surface-to-air missile systemThe S-350 Vityaz is a Russian mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed for layered air defense against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs, and some ballistic targets. In the Russia-Ukraine War it has appeared in Russian air-defense deployments near Ukraine and in later reporting from eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian sources and defense reporting documented S-350 equipment being struck or destroyed.
S-400 TriumfLong-range mobile surface-to-air missile systemThe S-400 Triumf, NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler, is a Russian road-mobile long-range air defense system built around networked command, search radar, engagement radar, and transporter-erector-launchers. It is designed to engage aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and some ballistic missile threats, and Russian S-400 batteries in occupied Crimea have been a recurring target in Ukraine's campaign against Russian air defenses.Sources
PAC-3 MSE OverviewPublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports PAC-3 family background, hit-to-kill method, MSE variant changes, launcher loadout, and international user context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Patriot Advanced Capability-3 MissilePublisher: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance | Note: Supports general PAC-3 role, producer, target set, ranges, guidance, and PAC-3 CRI/MSE variant context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20US Army awards Patriot Advanced Capability-3 contract worth up to $368.6 millionPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports U.S. Army production-capacity and capability context for PAC-3 MSE. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Intercepting Kinzhal, Iskander, and Zircon missiles: key facts about PAC-3 missilesPublisher: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine | Note: Directly supports Ukrainian receipt and use context for PAC-3 missiles in the Russia-Ukraine War and provides publicly stated performance details. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Iran missile strikes at US base in Qatar a 'simple task' for air defencesPublisher: ABC News | Note: Directly supports United States-Iran Conflict use of Patriot/PAC-3 missile defenses during Iran's June 2025 strike on Al Udeid Air Base. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Missile and Interceptor Cost Estimates During the U.S.-Israel-Iran WarPublisher: Jewish Institute for National Security of America | Note: Directly supports United States-Iran Conflict Patriot interceptor use at Al Udeid and related PAC-3 cost context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20HouthisPublisher: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance | Note: Directly supports Yemen Civil War use of Saudi Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 systems against Houthi missile attacks. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missiles and Support EquipmentPublisher: Defense Security Cooperation Agency | Note: Supports Saudi PAC-3 procurement context and the requested PAC-3 CRI missile package. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Patriot PAC-3 MSE SIAF-2022.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the primary PAC-3 MSE launcher image, published under CC BY-SA 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20