To fortify air and missile defence capabilities worldwide, Boeing has commenced construction on expanding its Huntsville factory, dedicated to producing Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seekers.
The 30% increase in annual production capacity aims to address the rising demand for these components, which are essential for intercepting advanced air and missile threats.
Boeing is taking steps to fortify the global defence architecture by expanding its Huntsville factory, a focal point for producing PAC-3 seekers. The missile components are integral to the Patriot surface-to-air defence system, providing guidance data for interceptors to locate, track, and neutralize advanced threats.
The 35,000ft² expansion is poised to bolster annual PAC-3 seeker production by over 30% to meet the escalating air and missile defence needs on a global scale.
Debbie Barnett, vice president of strategic missile defence systems and Boeing Huntsville site leader, emphasized the role of the PAC-3 seeker, stating, "The PAC-3 seeker is a critical air and missile defence capability, and this site expansion will allow us to significantly ramp up production to support the U.S. military, allies, and international partners who rely on it."
Boeing's investment in the Huntsville facility has exceeded $100m since 2010. In collaboration with Lockheed Martin for over two decades, the company recently marked the delivery of the 5,000th PAC-3 seeker. Boeing has been awarded over $2bn in contracts since 2021 for seeker production and developing a next-generation digitally-engineered seeker to combat evolving threats.
Expected to be operational in early 2027, the expanded facility represents a strategic move to meet the increasing demand for missile defence capabilities. Earlier this year, Boeing inaugurated a 9,000ft² expansion at the Huntsville Electronics Center of Excellence, contributing to producing hardware for PAC-3 seekers and other Boeing systems.
Boeing reported a Q3 2023 loss of $1.64bn. Boeing's Q3 revenue amounted to $18.1bn, with shares dropping 2.5% to $177.32. Despite a surprise Q2 2023 production increase, Boeing faced challenges, including a $482 million loss on its Air Force One contract due to higher manufacturing costs.
