U.S. Navy orders 405 Patriot interceptors amid record missile procurement surge

The U.S. Navy has formally requested 405 Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors as part of an unprecedented expansion in missile procurement under the Fiscal Year 2027 defense budget framework. This marks a staggering increase from just 12 interceptors ordered by the Navy in FY 2026 and aligns with wider efforts to integrate these missiles with the MK-41 Vertical Launch System on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Sources confirm that the Navy’s program has now reached a critical milestone, with integratio