Patriot Product Improvement

Mission — Patriot Product Improvement source

The PATRIOT system includes a family of hardware, software, interceptors (PAC-2, Guidance Enhanced Missiles, PAC-3 and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement) and Ground Support Equipment. PATRIOT system components (interceptors, launcher, and radar) are integrated with current force PATRIOT and Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) components, including IBCS. As PATRIOT system components software and hardware improvements are developed, there is a continuing need for system level modeling, simulation, integration and testing. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) allow for performance assessment against specific threats in a manner that is not practical to demonstrate with live fire flight tests alone due to cost, target availability, and range constraints. Flight testing is periodically required for M&S validation as well as satisfying ATEC/DOTE requirements of segment improvements. The FY 2026 funding in the amount of $58.222 Million supports the following: -PATRIOT system components software and hardware improvements for threat evolution: Performs necessary analysis and development efforts to maintain PATRIOT system (interceptors, ground support equipment, and current radar) effectiveness against evolving threat technologies and capabilities, support convergence with the IBCS, and complete PATRIOT Component Software Builds (PCSB). This effort identifies evolving threats and threat characteristics that present a challenge to PATRIOT's current capabilities and develops initial concepts to maintain system effectiveness including detection, tracking, discrimination, and engagement relative to these threats. Additionally, evolving threat information is used to develop, integrate, and assess evolving lethality models in high-fidelity interceptor simulations supporting system level assessment of hit-to-kill and warhead interceptor performance. -Advanced Electronic Counter Measures (AECM): This task investigates the implications of advanced technology Digital Radio Frequency Memory available on airborne platforms that enables new ECM techniques which could adversely degrade Air and Missile Defense System effectiveness. AECM efforts support PATRIOT system interceptors, ground support equipment, and current radar. -Task 2: Implements improved ground system and interceptor capabilities (PATRIOT Advanced Capability-2/Guidance Enhanced Missiles, PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3, and Missile Segment Enhancement) to counter emerging Tactical Ballistic Missile threats. -Task 6: Software improvements enhance ground support equipment and current radar discrimination of higher altitude Tactical Ballistic Missile Re-entry Vehicles (RVs) from associated objects to support the full engagement capabilities of the interceptor. Longer-range detection, track, and improved high-altitude discrimination are required to achieve the required lethality performance against the RV and to mitigate and reduce missile wastage against separation debris. This task leverages the signal processing capabilities of the Radar Digital Processor, and supports the high altitude engagements required by the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles. -Task 7: Performs analysis on existing and evolving Tactical Ballistic Missile (TBM) countermeasures to determine the effects on PATRIOT system effectiveness. Develops hardware and software concepts to address countermeasure effects to ensure the PATRIOT system maintains its effectiveness. Develops detailed system requirements to implement concepts; design/code/test software implementation leveraging Radar Digital Processor, Modernized Adjunct Processor, Enhanced Weapons Control Computer - Emulator and Flight Solution Computer-Redesign processing capabilities. Implements simulation-based concepts to define trade space and establish system requirements. -Combat ID Enhancements: Develop and implement improvements to the Radar Digital Processor-Capability Combat ID capabilities and additional Non-Cooperative Target Recognition techniques to further mitigate misclassification and fratricide risk, and to provide the Warfighter with improved situational awareness. This effort mitigates detection, tracking, and engagement errors on friendly targets. -Upper-Tier Debris Mitigation (UTDM): Implements algorithms to mitigate system impacts of debris from Upper Tier intercepts associated with operating in the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) environment. Debris from Upper Tier intercepts can cause significant radar loading effects and the potential for erroneous engagements and missile wastage on debris. -THAAD/PATRIOT Interoperability: Implements improvements to THAAD/PATRIOT Interoperability and addresses Joint Defense Network deficiencies that impact Tactical Ballistic Missile battle management and force/engagement operations. Efforts concentrate on joint, collaborative force operations (defense design and planning) and enhanced Tactical Digital Information Link - Joint interoperability. -Mobile Flight Mission Simulator (MFMS) is a real-time system exerciser integrated with tactical ground hardware to simulate signals into the radar. The MFMS is part of the simulation and testing infrastructure required to support fielded PATRIOT. -Integrated Fires Architecture Fire Control Development: Perform Integrated Fire Architecture Fire Control Development improvements to address evolving and newly fielded threats providing analysis, engineering, prototyping, testing, and tactical software implementation of improvements. -U.S. Government and contractor support for PIP efforts supporting system interceptors, ground support equipment, and current radar provide studies and support to ensure the system and its components continue to evolve to defeat emerging threats.

Mission — Patriot Product Improvement source

This funding line is a key enabler of the Army Modernization Priorities in support of the PATRIOT surface to air missile system. PATRIOT is an integral part of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Architecture and enables the incremental fielding of the IAMD Battle Command System (IBCS) capability for Army Air and Missile Defense Battalions. The PATRIOT Product Improvement Program (PIP) provides the upgrade of the PATRIOT System and the IAMD system through software improvements and individual materiel changes and upgrades to current force and IAMD-connected PATRIOT system components to address operational lessons-learned and necessary system performance improvements to include enhancements that support joint force interoperability and enable convergence with IBCS to ensure overmatch capability. DJ6 supports activities related to software and hardware for advanced integrated fires control, interceptors and M903 launchers to counter the advanced and emerging threats / DV8 supports activities related to ground system equipment, and current radar. As software and hardware improvements are developed, there is a continuing need for system level modeling, simulation, integration and testing. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) allow for performance assessment against emerging threats in a manner that is not practical to demonstrate with live fire flight tests alone due to cost, target availability, and range constraints. Flight testing is periodically required for validation of the modeling and simulation as well as satisfying Army Test and Evaluation Command/ Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (ATEC/DOTE) requirements of segment improvements. This effort supports work with national agencies to evaluate, assess, and develop means to mitigate threat trends and specific threat developments potentially impacting system performance including effective detection, tracking, discrimination, and engagement. Specific improvements may be developed and fielded under this task if warranted. The effort maintains the Mission Tailoring Database and its responses to immediate tactical concerns. Database updates are fielded between major software upgrades as necessary. The PIP line also supports the identification, analysis, design, and test of materiel solutions to counter cyber security and electronic warfare shortcomings to all elements of the Lower Tier Battle Space. GDS specific efforts will support continued advanced fire control and interceptor software refinement of Integrated Fires Program Increment (PI) software build leading up to the Integrated Fires Test Campaign-26 (IFTC-26) which will be the first opportunity to test Guam Defense Systems (GDS) improvements with the System of Systems architecture. This funding will also support a Field Readiness and Acceptance Test (FRAT) in late FY26. FY 2026 base dollars in the amount of $183.763 million support the continuance of critical software improvements for current force PATRIOT and Army IAMD integration, including Software Improvement for Threat Evolution, PAC-3 Seeker Software Improvement, Upper Tier Debris Mitigation, THAAD/PATRIOT Interoperability, Advanced Electronic Counter Measures (AECM), Combat ID enhancements, Tasks 2, 6, and 7 activities, program integration, modeling and simulation, acquisition of test assets and targets, Mobile Flight Mission Simulator (MFMS), Patriot Component Software Build (PCSB) software, development, test and integration activities for Pacific Defense Initiative, Integrated Fires Architecture Fire Control Development, convergence with the IBCS, and government and contractor support. FY 2026 funding in the amount of $14.988 million supports the Pacific Defense Initiative. The FY 2026 request for Patriot Product Improvement includes $125,541 thousand of discretionary and $15,000 thousand of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of $140,541 thousand. The mandatory funds provide support for Aviation and Missile Command support for all-digital and Hardware in the Loop (HWIL), Modeling and Simulation (M&S) efforts: Millimeter-wave Simulation System - 1 (MSS-1), Millimeter-wave Simulation System - 2 (MSS-2), PATRIOT Simulation (PATSIM), threats and targets. Further information for this reconciliation request is provided in Section 20003 (Missile Defense) of the Reconciliation Exhibit. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $1.518 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative."

Mission — Effector Product Improvement source

The Effector Product Improvement (DJ6) upgrades lower tier effectors (interceptors, fire control and M903 launching stations) to address operational lessons learned, enhancements to joint force interoperability and communications, and other system performance improvements to provide overmatch capability against the emerging threat. The FY 2026 request for Effector Product Improvement includes $125,541 thousand of discretionary and $15,000 thousand of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of $140,541 thousand. The mandatory funds provide support for Aviation and Missile Command support for all-digital and Hardware in the Loop (HWIL), Modeling and Simulation (M&S) efforts: Millimeter-wave Simulation System - 1 (MSS-1), Millimeter-wave Simulation System - 2 (MSS-2), PATRIOT Simulation (PATSIM), threats and targets. Further information for this reconciliation request is provided in Section 20003 of the Reconciliation Exhibit. DJ6 PIP activities support enduring components of the system as legacy PATRIOT Ground Equipment is sunset with fielding of Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). As components, software, and hardware improvements are developed, there is a continuing need for system level modeling, simulation, integration and testing. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) allow for performance assessment against specific threats in a manner that is not practical to demonstrate with live fire flight tests alone due to cost, target availability, and range constraints. Flight testing is periodically required for M&S validation as well as satisfying ATEC/DOTE requirements of segment improvements. In FY2026, DJ6 funding in the amount of $125.541 million will support test and development of improvements to currently fielded PATRIOT Family of Missiles (PFoM) and M903 launching stations to keep pace with current and emerging threats, support Guam Defense Systems specific efforts, and support Integrated Fires Control development and testing for the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense. -U.S. Government Program Management of DJ6 PIP efforts supporting system interceptors, launching stations, and associated materiel. -AMD Effectors Survivability efforts enhance electronic protection across lower tier effectors (MSE interceptors, fire control and M903 launching stations). -PAC-3 Software Development Against Threat supports improved missile capability to counter current and emerging electronic attack threats. -Integrated PAC-3 Fire Control Development provides funding to support PAC-3 Fire Control and Link on ELES (LoE) development for integration with IBCS to enable Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense Modernization. -DEVCOM and Other Agencies provides funding for government labor to support product development to keep pace with current threats. -Supports systems engineering for LTI interceptors, launching stations, and associated materiel. -PDI funding supports development of PAC-3 missile and fire control software enhancements required to counter Guam Defense System (GDS) specific threats not achievable with current fire control. -Provides funding for contractor T&E activities in support of test planning, conduct testing, and test analyses; provides studies and support to ensure these components continue to evolve to defeat emerging threats. -Integrated PAC-3 Fire Control provides funding to support PAC-3 Fire Control and Link on ELES (LoE) testing for integration with IBCS to enable Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense Modernization. -DEVCOM and Other Agencies provide systems engineering support for test and evaluation activities (includes planning, test event support, and data evaluation). -Targets/Threat Simulation supports planning, design, and acquisition of targets for Lower Tier Interceptors (LTI) test events. -Supports integration and testing for PCSB activities, full system level capabilities across various extended architecture, and other Engineering Change Proposal (ECP). This support includes test design, planning, integration, execution, and reporting testing efforts and provides support for testbed fire units and associated tactical and non-tactical ancillary equipment. -Modeling and Simulation supports performance assessment activities against all threats that would not be possible with flight tests due to cost, target and range constraints

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (3)