Farnborough 2026: PAC-3 ACE low-cost interceptor has blast fragmentation warhead

A computer-generated image of Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 ACE interceptor, unveiled at Farnborough 2026. (Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin unveiled its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Adapted Capability Effector (PAC-3 ACE), for the Patriot air defence system, at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, held from 20-24 July.

Among the measures taken to lower the PAC-3 ACE's cost to less than half that of the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor was to replace the hit-to-hill warhead with a blast fragmentation one, Jason Reynolds, vice president and general manager of integrated air and missile defence at Lockheed Martin told Janes on 22 July.

Going through the baseline PAC-3 to find areas to reduce cost, Lockheed Martin has made changes including using a simplified mode of seeker in the ACE compared to the MSE, though Reynolds declined to specify which type. The company has also removed the MSE's attitude control motors (ACMs) for the ACE, and simplified the midsection. The ACE have a single-pulse solid rocket motor instead of the MSE's dual-pulse motor, and Lockheed Martin is looking at more affordable motor casings. A blast fragmentation warhead removes the need for terminal corrections such as provided by the ACMs, or by thrust vectoring. The warhead will likely be provided by at least one third-party supplier, Reynolds added.

The company said in a 20 July press release that PAC-3 ACE would continue to use the PAC-3 software inside the MSE. PAC-3 ACE is designed to counter airbreathing and cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles, it said.