The United States has signed a contract worth more than $3 billion with defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to significantly increase production of key components for Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles, as Washington moves to replenish depleted stockpiles amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The agreement, announced by the Pentagon and Northrop Grumman, follows a separate $58.6 billion contract awarded to Lockheed Martin last week for the production of Patriot interceptor missiles.
The expanded production effort comes after extensive U.S. military support for allies and sustained use of precision-guided munitions during operations involving Iran, raising concerns about the readiness of American air defense inventories.
According to the Pentagon, the new framework agreement is designed to triple the production capacity of Patriot missile systems while increasing THAAD production fourfold.
The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) recently estimated that the U.S. military possesses fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptor missiles and fewer than 250 THAAD systems. Both platforms have played a critical role in defending against missile threats across the Middle East.
Defense officials have also pressed contractors to accelerate previously negotiated interim production agreements to rapidly expand manufacturing capacity and restore strategic stockpiles.
Ukraine continues to face shortages of Patriot systems, which remain the country’s only operational capability capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, making increased production strategically significant for future military assistance.
The Pentagon said the latest agreement will establish a second supply source for PAC-3 solid rocket motors while also increasing the production of missile ignition safety devices, strengthening the resilience of the U.S. defense industrial base.
Separately, Washington has reached a similar framework agreement with RTX Corporation, the parent company of Raytheon, aimed at dramatically increasing production of Tomahawk cruise missiles—from approximately 60 missiles annually for the U.S. military to a long-term target of 1,000 missiles per year.
