Boeing production of Patriot component hits record

Members of the Honour Guard walk next to a launcher of a Patriot air defence system after marking the Day of the Ukrainian Air Forces, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine August 4, 2024. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Boeing said on Tuesday it had ramped up production of a critical component for Patriot air defense interceptor missiles - the seeker that identifies and tracks efforts to knock them down - to meet growing demand from the US and allies.

Eighteen countries, including Ukraine, use PAC-3 interceptors, which have proven effective against advanced threats such as Russia's Kinzhal missiles. The US Army and international partners are driving demand for the system, while the US Navy is adding them to ships to protect its fleet.

Boeing said it delivered over 500 PAC-3 seekers in 2024, a record high, and set new monthly and 12-month rolling average production records early this year. Last year, the Pentagon said it wanted to increase Patriot production to 650 a year.

The seeker enables the Patriot system to identify, track, and defeat threats such as hostile aircraft and ballistic and cruise missiles.

Boeing is set to complete a 35,000-square-foot (3,250-square-metre) expansion of its production facility in Huntsville, Alabama, this spring.

The company has invested in modernising its facilities and improving manufacturing processes to increase efficiency and quality.

The PAC-3 seeker's "hit-to-kill" concept and agility make it an effective air defense against high-speed, maneuvering ballistic missiles.

As tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific region, the US military is seeking to enhance its defenses against advanced Chinese weapons, including hypersonic glide vehicle warheads. The PAC-3 system has already demonstrated its effectiveness against such threats, and its increased production is expected to support the US military's efforts to deter or defeat potential adversaries.