The U.S. Army’s Patriot missile defense system is moving closer to eliminating radar blind spots, thanks to a new communications technology from Lockheed Martin. Its Remote Intercept Guidance 360 (RIG-360) program has completed a major flight test and several development milestones within months.
The system allows PAC-3 missiles to communicate in flight across a 360-degree field. That capability could help the Army connect interceptors with the most suitable radar available during combat. The program has also demonstrated that its development schedule is running ahead of planned delivery milestones.
Connecting missiles to radars
Modern air defense depends on coordination between sensors and interceptors. Radar systems detect incoming threats and supply information that helps defensive missiles engage their targets. However, limitations in communication geometry can leave gaps in how missiles receive information from battlefield sensors.
RIG-360 addresses that challenge through a dedicated missile-communications device. It enables the PAC-3 missile family to receive in-flight communications across all directions. The system can also help the Army pair missiles with the best available radar, even when that sensor sits outside conventional communication angles.
This flexibility matters in a battlefield where threats can approach from different directions. Air defense units may need to combine information from multiple sensors to maintain an accurate picture of incoming aircraft or missiles. More flexible communications could help commanders make better use of available radar coverage.
Lockheed Martin designed the technology to support PAC-3 operations as battlefield conditions and threat directions change. The company says the system is critical to successful missile operations during flight.
Flight tests prove capability
The RIG-360 team completed three captive-carry tests before conducting its first developmental flight test. Those earlier tests helped engineers evaluate the system before moving to a live missile flight.
During captive-carry testing, engineers can assess equipment carried by an aircraft before proceeding to more demanding flight demonstrations. These tests provide an opportunity to examine system performance under flight conditions and identify potential issues before a missile launch.
The developmental flight test marked a significant step because the RIG-360 system and a PAC-3 missile communicated with each other during flight. The test also addressed the system’s maximum-range requirement.
Completing the flight test just weeks after a captive-carry event demonstrated how quickly the program progressed through its testing sequence. The team also completed a critical-design review, another milestone in preparing the technology for delivery.
RIG-360 reached these three major program milestones within a few months. The progress came roughly a year after the program received funding for its initial engineering, manufacturing and development phase.
Accelerating Army deliveries
The rapid testing schedule could help Lockheed Martin prepare RIG-360 for the U.S. Army’s planned delivery and fielding dates. The company says the program is ahead of schedule, although it has not disclosed specific delivery dates in the announcement.
Jason Reynolds, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of Integrated Air and Missile Defense, described RIG-360 as critical to PAC-3 operations and in-flight performance.
He also said the team aims to deliver the technology ahead of schedule. Reynolds called the system a major advancement for the PAC-3 missile family.
The technology’s significance extends beyond completing individual development milestones. Missile defense systems must coordinate sensors, communications equipment, and interceptors within tight operational timelines