TechNATO clinches $5.6 billion deal for PAC-2 missiles to boost European defense

NATO clinches $5.6 billion deal for PAC‑2 missiles to boost European defense

RZESZOW, POLAND - MARCH 09: US Patriot missile defense batteries newly installed at the Rzeszow airport located near the Poland-Ukraine border in Rzeszow, Poland on March 09, 2022. The US military said that it is ârepositioningâ two Patriot missile defense batteries to Poland "to confront any potential threats" to allies and NATO territory amid Russiaâs war in Ukraine. (Photo by Agnieszka Majchrowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Images source: © GETTY | 2022 Anadolu Agency, Anadolu Agency

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1:26 PM EST, March 4, 2024

As detailed by RID, the NSPA has entered into a substantial contract for up to 1,000 PAC-2 GEM-T missiles, with all options for expansion considered. The production will be handled by the COMLOG consortium, a collaborative endeavor between RTX (Raytheon) and MBDA.

This marks the initial collective acquisition of air defense system missiles under the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), launched by Germany. As journalist Łukasz Michalik reports, the purchase aims to bolster the missile defense capabilities of Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain. It also sees the prospect of manufacturing PAC-2 GEM-T missiles in Europe over time. Although not a participant, Poland may join the initiative, especially if PAC-3 MSE missiles become part of the program.

PAC-2 GEM-T: Upgraded missiles maintaining efficacy

Developed in the 1990s, the PAC-2 GEM-T missiles represent a substantial upgrade over their predecessors, significantly boosting their capability to counter ballistic missiles while preserving the classic fragmentation warhead design.

Improvements featured the integration of a new rocket engine and an enhanced radar head capable of engaging low-visibility targets. Despite these upgrades, the guidance system remains semi-active, a limitation when compared to the fully active radar heads of PAC-3 MSE/CRI missiles.

With a semi-active guidance system, the Patriot's radar must continually track the target until impact, making it vulnerable to anti-radiation missile strikes. Nonetheless, the system's considerably lower cost positions the PAC-2 GEM-T as a cost-effective alternative to the more expensive PAC-3 MSE and its budget variant, CRI. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine demonstrates that even the older PAC-2 GEM-T missiles, with a range of approximately 100 miles, are sufficiently effective against not only aircraft but also ballistic missiles.