The Spanish Ministry of Defense has placed an order for the purchase of modern PAC-3MSE missiles for Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems.

This news was published on Lockheed Martin’s website.

The corresponding agreement is signed between the governments of the United States and Spain and aims to strengthen the country’s air defense.

Due to the desire of Spain to become one of the most advanced users of the most modern versions of the Patriot air defense system, the country has become the sixteenth to use the PAC-3 MSE.

“At Lockheed Martin, we’re devoted to helping our customers stay ahead of new, highly contested threats,” said Brian Kubik, Vice President of PAC-3 Programs at Lockheed Martin.

This purchase for Spain is made after the transfer of MIM-104 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, which are urgently needed to protect the local civilian infrastructure and cities.

In addition, the new system will qualitatively strengthen the air defense of Spain, which, in addition to protecting the country’s territory, is also used to protect other countries-members of the NATO alliance.

“As the world’s most advanced air defense missile, PAC-3 will enhance Spain’s national defense capabilities and enhance their effectiveness in the 21st Century Security® battlespace,” Brian Kubik added.

Amid the interest of most countries in the development of hypersonic weapons, American experts from Lockheed Martin have developed an improved version of the PAC-3 MSE interceptor.

The designers increased the new missile’s size and equipped it with a new engine, due to which the range of intercepting air targets increased to 120 km, and ballistic targets to 60 km.

After such modernization, 12 transport-launch containers with missiles can be installed on the launcher PAC-3 MSE or combined with other versions.

Previously, Militarnyi reported that the German Ministry of Defense was ordering additional Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. These additional systems would enable Germany to expand its existing fleet of air defense systems and replace those systems that were transferred to Ukraine.