The U.S. Army is seeking to significantly expand its inventory of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, which have proven vital both in Ukraine and for American forces in the Middle East.
Bloomberg reports, citing budget documents, that the Army has raised its procurement target from 3,376 to 13,773 Patriot interceptors under the fiscal year 2026 request, which begins on October 1.
The figure comes from the Army Requirements Oversight Council, a senior panel that recommends weapons needs.
However, these recommendations do not automatically translate into funding or contracts. U.S. lawmakers are still drafting defense spending legislation that could address the Army’s request.
The sharp increase reflects growing demand for the Patriot system, particularly for Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 MSE variant, capable of intercepting drones, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles.
According to Army data, 2,047 PAC-3 MSE missiles were procured by fiscal year 2024, with 230 purchased that year and 214 in the current year.
For FY2026, the Army is requesting $945.9 million to purchase 224 missiles — $549.6 million from the base budget and $396.3 million from the European Deterrence Initiative, Operation Atlantic Resolve.
A defense funding bill signed by President Donald Trump last week also allocates an additional $366 million to purchase 96 more PAC-3 MSE interceptors, Bloomberg noted.
In March, Lockheed Martin announced that its production team had significantly increased output, delivering a record 500 missiles in the previous year.
The Guardian recently reported that the U.S. currently has only 25% of the Patriot interceptor stockpile required to meet the Pentagon’s warfighting plans.
