A Patriot interceptor missile is fired from a launching station during a training exercise in Koror, Palau, on Aug. 21, 2025. The Defense Department and Boeing, the Patriot air defense system's manufacturer, have agreed to sharply increase production of a key system component as global demand for air and missile systems surges. (Frank Spatt/U.S. Army)
The U.S. Defense Department and Boeing have agreed to sharply increase production of a key component used in the Patriot air defense system.
The agreement will triple output of seekers that allow Patriot missiles known as Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement to track and destroy incoming threats, according to statements released Wednesday by Boeing and the Pentagon.
The production push comes as demand for air and missile defense systems surges globally amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The Patriot system is widely used by Ukraine to defend against Russian missile and air attacks, and there has been heavy demand for the system during the ongoing conflict with Iran, now in its fifth week.
Some analysts have warned that missile stockpiles may be depleted faster than they can be replaced, though the Pentagon says the military has the resources to meet operational requirements.
Earlier this year, Pentagon officials said they aim to more than triple annual production of PAC-3 Patriot interceptors, from roughly 600 per year to as many as 2,000. Each missile costs at least $4 million to build, according to a 2025 briefing from the Congressional Research Service.
Lockheed Martin, the prime PAC-3 contractor, has said it plans to significantly increase its own production capacity to help meet that goal. The Boeing agreement, which boosts output of a key guidance component, is intended to support that broader expansion.
The seven-year framework is designed to provide long-term stability across the supply chain and allow industry to invest in facilities and workforce, according to the Pentagon’s statement.
Boeing said its seekers enable interceptors “to identify, track and defeat advanced threats ranging from hostile aircraft and hypersonics to ballistic and cruise missiles.”
The company has already invested more than $200 million since 2024 to expand production capacity in Huntsville, Ala., including a facility expansion, and said the agreement will support additional investments.
