The request forms part of a broader expansion in munitions procurement under the $1.5 trillion defense budget. Funding for Navy PAC-3 procurement and integration has increased by approximately $1.6 billion compared with the previous year.
The planned purchase marks a significant rise from fiscal 2026 levels, when only 12 interceptors were procured for the Navy. The increase reflects growing emphasis on missile defense capabilities in naval operations.
Efforts to integrate PAC-3 MSE interceptors onto U.S. Navy vessels have been underway for several years. The program has focused on both physical integration with launch systems and compatibility with onboard sensors and the Aegis combat system.
Testing of the integration included a missile firing conducted in May 2024. The interceptors are intended to supplement existing terminal-phase ballistic missile defense capabilities aboard destroyers.
Lockheed Martin has indicated that integration work with the Mk 41 system is largely complete. A company official previously stated that the remaining step is the award of a final procurement contract.
The final contract is expected to depend on congressional approval of the budget. Officials noted that appropriations could change during the legislative process.
The budget proposal also includes a significant increase in interceptor procurement for the U.S. Army. A total of 2,798 Patriot interceptors are designated to replenish Army stocks.
Combined procurement for the Army and Navy exceeds 3,200 missiles in fiscal 2027. The total value of these purchases is estimated at just under $14 billion, representing a substantial increase from 245 interceptors in fiscal 2026.
Production capacity has also expanded to support increased demand. Lockheed Martin announced in January 2026 that it had received an award to more than triple annual production.
Officials said the rise in procurement reflects operational demands seen in recent conflicts. Patriot interceptors have been used extensively in Ukraine and in the Middle East, where missile defense systems have faced sustained use.
Source: Naval News.
