Boeing Increases Seeker Production in Response to Rising Patriot Demand, Reports Reuters

Boeing announced on Wednesday that it is increasing its production of PAC-3 seekers, which are vital components of Patriot interceptors, to address the rising demand for missile defense systems. The company expects to surpass its annual production record for seekers by more than 20% by year-end.

However, the U.S. plan to enhance the production of Patriot air defense missiles at Japanese manufacturing plants has encountered challenges due to a shortage of these crucial components, which are supplied by Boeing.

In Japan, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries manufactures approximately 30 PAC-3 missiles annually under license from a defense contractor and aims to boost that output to about 60. This expansion is contingent on securing additional supplies of seekers, which are essential for steering the missiles during their final flight stages.

Last year, Boeing initiated the expansion of its seeker manufacturing facility in the United States with plans to increase production capacity by 30%. However, the new production lines will not be operational until 2027.

The demand for Patriot missile defense systems remains high, fueled by their deployment in Ukraine against Russian aggression, as well as their use in the Middle East due to concerns regarding threats from Iran.