New Patriot Interceptors To Allow For “Over-The-Shoulder” Shots At Passing Targets

New Patriot Interceptors To Allow For “Over-The-Shoulder” Shots At Passing Targets

Joseph Trevithick

Mon, December 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM UTC

9 min read

A combination of new interceptors and launchers is set to give the Patriot surface-to-air missile system an "over-the-shoulder" engagement capability, the U.S. Army has disclosed.

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A combination of new interceptors and launchers is set to give the Patriot surface-to-air missile system an “over-the-shoulder” engagement capability, the U.S. Army has disclosed. What this means is that future Patriot systems will have critical additional flexibility to engage threats, even ones that may have already passed overhead. This is something the system cannot currently do without physically reorienting its launchers, creating challenges in various intercept scenarios.

Army officials discussed current and future planned capabilities for Patriot with Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent tour of Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, at which members of the media were also present. Hegseth had traveled to Redstone last week primarily for a ceremony marking the designation of the facility as the new headquarters for U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM).

Secretary Hegseth, second from the left, seen in front of a launcher for the Patriot surface-to-air missile system during a recent tour of Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. <em>DoW/USN Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza</em> — Secretary Hegseth, second from the left, seen in front of a launcher for the Patriot surface-to-air missile system during a recent tour of Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. *DoW/USN Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza*

For some immediate context, a current Army Patriot battery typically consists of eight M903 launchers, as well as an AN/MPQ-65 multifunction phased array radar and other fire control, communications, and support equipment. Each trailer-based M903 can be loaded with a mix of PAC-2 and PAC-3 series interceptors, the exact capabilities of which you can read more about here. The launchers have a degree of ability to traverse left and right, and fire interceptors at an upward angle in whichever direction they are pointed. Overall, the systems are deployed in static positions aimed in a largely fixed direction.

<em>A graphic depicting the components of a typical US Army Patriot battery.</em> <em>via GlobalSecurity.org</em> — *A graphic depicting the components of a typical US Army Patriot battery.* *via GlobalSecurity.org*

A graphic showing various Patriot launcher types (including the M903) and possible load configurations. <em>Lockheed Martin</em> A graphic showing various Patriot launcher types and possible load configurations. <em>Lockheed Martin</em> — A graphic showing various Patriot launcher types (including the M903) and possible load configurations. *Lockheed Martin* A graphic showing various Patriot launcher types and possible load configurations. *Lockheed Martin*

“So, the current [M903] launcher will slew,” Army Lt. Col. Steven Moebes, currently Product Manager for Lower Tier Interceptors, told Hegseth at the recent Redstone show-and-tell. “I will put in a plug that this year we’re starting a new interceptor program that will have longer range [and] higher altitudes.”

Moebes did not name the new interceptor program. However, the Army had indicated earlier in the year that it was looking to reboot the Lower-Tier Future Interceptor (LTFI) effort for Patriot, which we will come back to later on. “Lower-tier” in this context refers to the lower end of the ballistic missile defense spectrum. Patriot is otherwise in the upper-end of the Army’s current slate of air and missile defense capabilities.

The Lower Tier Interceptors Program Manager was also responding to a direct question from Hegseth, which is largely inaudible in the available video from the event that multiple outlets captured. The Secretary can be heard saying that the focus of his question is something of personal interest to President Donald Trump.

“All of our digital simulations are showing that with that new interceptor, we will have the ability for what we call [an] over-the-shoulder shot,” Moebes continued. “So, it will have the kinematic power to be able to launch and actually engage behind us.”

“It’s a software problem. On this system right now, the software does not allow us to fire behind,” Army Brig. Gen. Patrick Costello, head of the Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill, who was also present during Hegseth’s tour of Redstone, added. “The Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher [CAML] that we’re developing … is going to be more vertical [in terms of launch profile], too.”

“Even if we’re doing over-the-shoulder launches, we lose some probability [of kill], we lose some lethality … [when the] missile’s wasting energy going forward and turning around,” Costello continued.

CAML is a planned family of different autonomous launcher vehicles, which the Army wants to use to fire a variety of offensive and defensive munitions, as you can learn more about here. The Army has said previously that it envisions the heaviest tier of CAML, or CAML-H, being able to launch Patriot surface-to-air missile interceptors, as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Extreme Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicle (X-MAV) from Oshkosh Defense seen here is one of a number of launcher vehicles now in development with the Army’s CAML requirements in mind. <em>Jamie Hunter</em> — The Extreme Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicle (X-MAV) from Oshkosh Defense seen here is one of a number of launcher vehicles now in development with the Army’s CAML requirements in mind. *Jamie Hunter*

As an aside, Lockheed Martin has already demonstrated the ability to fire the latest Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) variant of the PAC-3 interceptor vertically from a containerized launcher derived from the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) used on various U.S. Navy and foreign warships. That testing is part of a larger push primarily aimed at promoting PAC-3 MSE for naval applications, though it could be relevant to the Army’s future plans, as well.

A picture of a test launch of a PAC-3 MSE interceptor vertically from a containerized launcher. <em>Lockheed Martin</em> A picture from the PAC-3 MSE test launch. <em>Lockheed Martin</em> — A picture of a test launch of a PAC-3 MSE interceptor vertically from a containerized launcher. *Lockheed Martin* A picture from the PAC-3 MSE test launch. *Lockheed Martin*

It is also interesting to note here that many surface-to-air missile systems in service globally, including ones that are loosely comparable to Patriot, such as Russia’s S-400 and China’s HQ-9, already feature launchers that fire their interceptors vertically.

Transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) for the S-400 surface-to-air missile system seen deployed. The TELs associated with China’s HQ-9 surface-to-air missile system are very similar in form and function. <em>Sergei Malgavko / TASS</em> — Transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) for the S-400 surface-to-air missile system seen deployed. The TELs associated with China’s HQ-9 surface-to-air missile system are very similar in form and function. *Sergei Malgavko / TASS*

Details about the Army’s new Patriot interceptor program otherwise remain limited. As mentioned, the service has been talking about restarting the LTFI effort for some months now. Last year, the service had announced plans to cancel that program, ostensibly over high projected costs. While the estimated unit cost for LTFI is unknown, each PAC-3 MSE interceptor currently has a price tag in the $4.6 million range, according to Army budget documents.

“There are some aspects of the LTFI program that are still somewhat pre-decisional, but I believe that we will get support for the program, and I may be in a position this time next year to begin program-of-record execution,” Army Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, then Program Executive Officer for Missiles and Space, had said in October during a panel discussion at the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) main annual conference. “I think right now the glass is probably half full that we’ll get to run that program, and so we’re really in the planning process in figuring out what that’s going to look like moving forward.”

Lozano, who now has the title of Director of Hypersonic, Directed Energy, Space, and Rapid Acquisition, led the recent tour for Hegseth at Redstone.

A Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor seen being fired during a test. <em>DoD</em> A Patriot launcher fires a newer PAC-3-series missile during a test. <em>DoD</em> — A Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor seen being fired during a test. *DoD* A Patriot launcher fires a newer PAC-3-series missile during a test. *DoD*

Regardless, new interceptors and launchers that allow for over-the-shoulder shots would be an important, if not essential, capability boost for Patriot. The air and missile defense threat ecosystem includes a growing number of faster-flying air-breathing and ballistic threats, many of which also come along with more complex and/or erratic flight profiles.

Earlier this year, the U.S. military notably confirmed that “Russian tactical improvements, including enhancements that enable their missiles to change trajectory and perform maneuvers rather than flying in a traditional ballistic trajectory,” had created real challenges for Patriot systems supplied to Ukraine. This is a prime example of the threat picture the Army is already faced with.

A stock picture of a Russian Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile being launched during an exercise. Iskander-M is chief among the ballistic missiles Russia’s forces have been employing against Ukraine.<em> Russian MoD</em> — A stock picture of a Russian Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile being launched during an exercise. Iskander-M is chief among the ballistic missiles Russia’s forces have been employing against Ukraine. Russian MoD

In speaking at Redstone with Secretary Hegseth, Lt. Col. Moebes did highlight the immense role that Patriot has played to date in Ukraine, despite the aforementioned issues, especially as the country’s only real option for engaging incoming ballistic threats.

A Patriot missile system operator urged Americans to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians, saying:We want to thank the American people for supplying us with the weapons we need. Your support allows us to protect our cities and the people who live in them. pic.twitter.com/Ikb01YOutE
— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) March 6, 2025

Patriot systems with expanded engagement envelopes, as well as launchers that do not need to slew to face the direction of the target before firing, would also offer benefits for responding to large volume strikes, especially ones where targets are incoming from multiple vectors simultaneously. A future Patriot launcher capable of firing different types of interceptors vertically would offer further advantages for addressing complex attacks that include varied threats with different performance profiles, as well.

Uncrewed launcher vehicles with high degrees of autonomy, whether loaded with Patriots or other munitions, offer additional benefits, including additional operational capacity without major demands more additional personnel. The launchers also help reduce risk to human operators, even when pushed forward in higher-risk environments. This all creates new targeting dilemmas and different risks of pop-up threats for adversaries.

The Army is already working to expand Patriot’s ability to spot and track targets with new Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radars that offer 360-degree coverage. This is a major improvement compared to the more limited, forward-facing field of view provided by the AN/MPQ-65. The new Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) network also gives Patriot systems significantly greater access to offboard tracking and targeting data. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, over-the-shoulder engagement and vertical launch capabilities would be critical to get the most out of LTAMDS.

All this being said, it is important to point out that the Army’s Patriot force overall is highly strained. A succession of crises in recent years, together with support to Ukraine, have underscored how the service’s capacity to provide Patriot support is worryingly inadequate to meet current operational demands, let alone those of a future high-end fight. These concerns extend to stockpiles of interceptors, as well as the total number of systems available. TWZ has been calling attention to these issues for years now.

The Army, together with Raytheon (the Patriot system’s prime contractor) and Lockheed Martin (the prime contractor for the PAC-3 MSE), has been trying to take steps in recent years to reverse these trends. This includes work to ramp up PAC-3 MSE production and plans to establish four new Army Patriot battalions in the coming years. However, questions remain about the speed with which any of that will actually arrive, especially given the demand for Patriot globally, which has grown in light of its performance in Ukraine. Earlier this year, deliveries of new Patriot systems to Switzerland were notably delayed to help meet the urgent demands of the Ukrainian armed forces.

What is clear is that the Army is now actively pursuing critical new capabilities to help prevent air and missile threats from slipping behind its Patriot batteries.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

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