U.S. Navy to Equip Ships with Patriot Missiles Amid Concerns Over China’s Hypersonic Weaponry

In response to China’s rapidly advancing missile technology, particularly the deployment of hypersonic weapons, the U.S. Navy is planning to install Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors on select vessels. These agile missiles, currently used by the U.S. Army for land-based air defense, could provide an additional layer of protection for Navy ships facing China’s maneuverable anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Indo-Pacific region, according to senior defense officials.

Adapting Navy Defenses

As China tests advanced missiles like the DF-27, which employs hypersonic glide vehicles to evade detection and hit moving targets, the Navy sees the Patriot missiles as a necessary addition. The PAC-3’s “hit-to-kill” technology allows for precise strikes on incoming threats, enhancing Navy ships’ current anti-missile systems. Compared to the Navy’s SM-6 missiles, the PAC-3 is smaller, more agile, and less costly, making it a potentially ideal interceptor for fast-moving, unpredictable ballistic missiles. This comes as Lockheed Martin seeks U.S. Army approval to increase PAC-3 production and establish a new seeker production line in Florida.

Growing Threat of Chinese Missiles

China’s missile arsenal includes the DF-21D “carrier killer,” the intermediate-range DF-26 with anti-ship warheads, and the new DF-27, which is capable of long-range strikes. This arsenal underscores the need for reliable countermeasures as the Indo-Pacific’s security landscape evolves. The PAC-3 interceptors, proven effective against advanced threats in Ukraine and the Middle East, are now being considered for deployment at sea to bolster U.S. defense capabilities.