US to significantly boost production of Patriot missiles
Photo: Patriot air defense missile system (Getty Images)
The Pentagon has quadrupled its procurement of missiles for the Patriot air defense system. This system is critically important for both Ukraine’s defense and US forces in the Middle East, according to Bloomberg.
The US Army plans to allocate over $1.3 billion for the procurement of Patriot missiles as part of its fiscal year 2026 budget, which begins on October 1.
According to documents accompanying the US Army’s 2026 budget request, on April 16, a senior weapons requirements committee increased the planned purchase of the latest Patriot missiles from 3,376 to 13,773 units. These figures are advisory and do not mean that the corresponding funding or contracts will be approved in the near term.
Congress is currently working on defense policy and appropriations bills for the Pentagon, which may incorporate the Army’s updated requests.
According to Bloomberg, the increased procurement target reflects the US military’s intention to bolster the Patriot system amid growing demand from allies and partners seeking to upgrade their air and missile defense capabilities.
The latest version of the missile, the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE), developed by Lockheed Martin, is designed to intercept drones, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles. The solid-fuel rocket motors are supplied by L3Harris Technologies.
Ukraine is actively using Patriot batteries and missiles received from the US and its allies to protect civilians from Russian aerial attacks. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the US has delivered three Patriot batteries and an unspecified number of interceptors to Ukraine.
According to budget documents, the US Army had purchased 2,047 PAC-3 MSE missiles through fiscal year 2024, with an additional 230 acquired in 2024 and 214 more in the current year.
In its FY2026 budget proposal, the Army is requesting $945.9 million to purchase 224 missiles: $549.6 million from the base budget and $396.3 million under the Atlantic Resolve operation, aimed at strengthening NATO’s defense posture in Europe.
Additionally, a newly signed tax and spending bill by President Trump includes another $366 million for the purchase of 96 Patriot interceptors.
US forces are also actively using Patriot systems in the Middle East, including in support of Israel and to defend the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The systems were used to intercept missiles during an Iranian retaliatory strike following attacks on nuclear facilities.
According to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane, US forces successfully intercepted 14 incoming Iranian missiles.
Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said the fourfold increase in interceptor procurement is a logical step after years of reported shortages. However, he noted that addressing the deficit will require real budget allocations and multi-year contracts.
"Even with all that, it won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight," Karako stated.
US Army spokesperson Steve Warren stated that funding for Patriot production has remained steady in recent years, but "ramping production is challenging."
In March, Lockheed Martin announced that its PAC-3 team significantly increased production in 2023, reaching a record 500 missiles, over 30% higher than in 2022.
The company also said it plans to raise production by an additional 20% in 2025.
The MIM-104 Patriot is an American air defense missile system developed by a group of US companies led by Raytheon.
The PAC-3 variant interceptor can reach hypersonic speeds of up to Mach 3 and is capable of intercepting S-300 and S-400 missiles, as well as supersonic Kh-22 and air-launched ballistic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles.
The system can simultaneously detect and track over 100 aerial targets.
Interruption of Patriot missile deliveries
Last week, several media outlets reported a halt in US military aid to Ukraine, including the suspension of Patriot interceptor deliveries.
According to The Guardian, the pause was reportedly caused by a shortage of Patriot missiles.
During a phone call with President Zelenskyy, President Trump promised to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with 10 Patriot missiles.
Reports also indicate that the US president did not rule out sending an additional Patriot system to Kyiv.
