The Department of War announced the signing of a framework agreement with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and Lockheed Martin that will increase production and hasten the delivery schedules for missile defense interceptors on Aug. 31. The agreement covers the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement.
THAAD was developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Army to destroy incoming missiles by hitting them “head-on” at a high speed.
While simple, THAAD deploys a unique approach as it “hits-to-kill” instead of detonating midair or relying on explosions to take down approaching warheads.
The U.S. diminished its munitions in the war with Iran, using about half of the starting stockpile of Patriot, THAAD and PrSM.
Possible future wars with Russia or other adversaries make a low inventory of critical missile interceptors a risk.
Current supply chains rely on efficient peacetime production, and acute demand was not accounted for when the Cold War ended.
So, President Donald Trump invoked the Cold War-era Defense Production Act during his first term to stimulate the production of these critical missiles.
As part of a seven-year contract, Lockheed Martin was awarded $35 billion by the U.S. government to quadruple the supply of THAAD interceptors as well as $4.7 billion to expand PAC-3 MSE production.
Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said, “This award reflects our shared vision with the Department of War to strengthen America’s Arsenal of Freedom through a transformational shift to multiyear procurement. This new approach propels our efforts to strengthen the defense industrial base, expand production and deliver capabilities to the American warfighter at unprecedented speed and scale.”
With around 123,000 employees and over 340 facilities worldwide, Lockheed Martin described its impact on the American and global economy saying, “Lockheed Martin continues to expand its workforce, creating tens of thousands of high-quality American jobs across manufacturing, engineering and skilled trades. These investments ensure America and its allies have the proven capabilities needed to protect people, infrastructure and freedom around the globe.”
Beyond facilitating domestic and global job creation, Lockheed Martin’s THAAD allows the U.S. to grow and maintain its alliances, with past deployments to South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
Harrison Kass, a senior defense and national security writer at The National Interest, claimed THAAD’s usefulness is not limited to defense tactics. He said, “In the past, THAAD deployments…have operated not purely as defense tactics, but also as a deterrent, forcing an adversary to account for US-linked interceptors.”
Kass also said, “Simultaneously, THAAD operates as a diplomatic instrument, allowing allies—recently including Japan, Israel and Saudi Arabia—to feel the symbolism and practicality of being directly integrated within the preemptively stabilizing US defensive scheme.”
