Lockheed Martin says PAC-3 MSE shipboard tests are planned for 2028 with fielding aimed for 2029

The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a second-phase contract to integrate the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor with the Aegis Weapon System and Mk 41 Vertical Launching System. The work covers a ship-compatible launch canister, revised launch-timing and fire-control software, and a data link operating in the S and X bands. A 2024 flight demonstration used a Mk 70 launcher with a virtual Aegis configuration, while a separate ground test checked passage through a Mk 41 canister. The Navy plans a land-based flight test in 2027 and shipboard trials in 2028, targeting fielding in 2029.