Deliveries hit a record high for Boeing’s Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seeker program in 2024, with more than 500 produced for the Army and global partners, the company announced.

Also, this year, Boeing set monthly and 12-month rolling average production records.

Seekers enable the most advanced interceptors used by the Patriot air defense system to identify, track and defeat advanced threats ranging from hostile aircraft to ballistic and cruise missiles.

As threats evolve and proliferate faster than ever, the U.S. and its allies are “increasingly depending on us to deliver this critical component for the world’s best air defense system,” said Jim Bryan, director of Integrated Air & Missile Defense.

Boeing said the Patriot system has seen a surge in demand, which has only intensified following its exceptional performance protecting Ukrainian service members, civilians and critical infrastructure since 2023.

The company also expects to complete construction of its 35,000-square-foot factory expansion in Huntsville this spring, which will unlock additional production capacity once fully operational.

While Bryan said Boeing is able to build enough seekers to keep up with the planned 650-missile production rate using the facility it has, the new expansion will feature added efficiencies — such as automated inspection systems and robotic soldering — that allow the company to meet “much higher” demand signals beyond 650.

Nearly 6,000 seekers have been delivered since 2000 by the Boeing team in Huntsville and 17 countries are supported by Boeing as a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin.

“This capability exemplifies our air and missile defense expertise, which we can leverage to address major challenges, such as America’s next-generation homeland defense shield and more,” Bryan said.

Courtesy of 256 Today.