Lockheed Martin unveils low‑cost PAC‑3 ACE interceptor to meet soaring air‑defence demand

Lockheed Martin announced the PAC‑3 Adapted Capability Effector (PAC‑3 ACE) at the Farnborough International Airshow. The new Patriot‑compatible interceptor costs less than half the price of the current PAC‑3 MSE missile (about $4 million per unit) and could enter production within 36 months. It is co‑developed with U.S. and European industry partners and is designed to defeat a broad spectrum of threats, including cheap swarms of drones, cruise missiles and short‑range ballistic missiles, thereby increasing magazine depth and lowering the cost‑per‑kill for allied forces.

European missile maker MBDA also revealed its Counter Mass Interceptor, aimed at neutralising mass drone attacks and other low‑cost munitions. The first version, targeting small drones, is slated for an initial fielding in 2028, with a later, longer‑range variant to address rockets, gliding bombs and sub‑sonic missiles. Both programmes stress scalable production, with MBDA likening its approach to an automotive‑industry model.

Anduril introduced Thunder, an autonomous tilt‑rotor attack rotorcraft built on a hybrid‑electric powertrain and derived from a commercial VTOL platform. The system is intended to extend the reach and survivability of crewed attack aircraft and operate from austere locations without runways.