U.S. Army readies new PAC-3 technical support deal

The United States Army on March 2, 2026, issued a notice for follow-on Technical Assistance and Field Service Representative support for the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, Defense System covering program years 2027 through 2029.

The notice, published by Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, calls for industry capability statements by March 17, 2026.

The action reflects advance planning to sustain PAC-3 missile defense units as the system remains in operational service with U.S. forces and international partners. Continued technical support is required to maintain readiness of both PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative, or CRI, and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, or MSE, interceptors and associated launcher equipment.

According to the notice, the announcement “is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation.” It further states that “no solicitation is being issued currently” and that the U.S. Government “will not pay for any information or reimburse any costs incurred in responding to this RFI.”

The Army said the future solicitation is expected to cover Technical Assistance and Field Service Representative, or FSR, support for the PAC-3 Defense System and Ground Support Equipment. The performance period for the follow-on effort is scheduled to commence no later than Dec. 1, 2027.

The government also notes that it “does not possess or have an available Technical Data Package for the maintenance of any of the equipment; for example, PAC-3 missile variants or PAC-3 Launcher Station (LS), test sets or tooling to be maintained under any potential contract.” This means that contractors responding to the future solicitation must demonstrate direct technical expertise in maintaining and supporting the system.

Under the planned scope of work, contractor FSRs would provide system integration support, including installation and checkout of PAC-3 hardware and software in fielded units. FSR personnel would be stationed onsite with operational units and serve as subject matter experts for operational questions and maintenance of both hardware and software.

The notice specifies that FSRs must be available on call within 24 to 48 hours after receiving a request for assistance. Duties would include diagnosing and troubleshooting hardware and software issues, performing maintenance and repair actions affecting fielded systems, and providing reinforcement and new equipment training.

The PAC-3 system is part of the PATRIOT air and missile defense architecture designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft. The CRI and MSE variants represent successive upgrades, with the MSE interceptor offering increased range and enhanced performance compared to earlier versions.

As PAC-3 systems remain deployed with U.S. and allied forces, structured planning for contractor technical support remains a central component of maintaining operational air and missile defense capabilities.