Washington is taking unprecedented steps to replenish its missile defense arsenals. The US has signed a new framework agreement with leading defense giants Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, worth over $3 billion. The goal of the contract is to sharply expand the production of components for Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles.
The decision comes against the backdrop of critically depleted stocks caused by simultaneous involvement in conflicts in the Middle East and large-scale military aid to Ukraine. According to Reuters, the agreement is a logical continuation of a contract announced last week, under which Lockheed Martin received an order worth up to $58.6 billion to produce the Patriot missiles themselves.
Critical shortage and Pentagon plans
According to the Pentagon, the new agreement will allow for a tripling of Patriot missile production rates and a fourfold increase in the output of components for THAAD systems. This is necessary to compensate for the high rate of ammunition consumption, which is used both to protect allies and for the US's own needs in the Middle East region.
Experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington have voiced alarming figures: the US military currently has fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptor missiles and fewer than 250 THAAD missiles in service. Both systems are actively used in operations in the Middle East, accelerating the depletion of stockpiles.
Technical details and parallels with Tomahawk
A key element of the new contract will be the creation of a second source for producing solid-fuel engines for PAC-3 missiles, as well as a significant increase in the production of ignition devices. This is intended to eliminate "bottlenecks" in the production chain.
The situation with Patriot is not unique in the American defense industry. Earlier, Washington signed a similar framework agreement with RTX Corporation to sharply increase the production of Tomahawk cruise missiles. Production is planned to increase from the current 60 units to 1,000 missiles per year.
Production situation for Ukraine
For Ukraine, which continues to suffer from a chronic shortage of Patriot missiles, this news has a double meaning. At present, Patriot systems remain the only means in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' arsenal capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
Previously, Kyiv hoped to receive a license for the local production of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. However, according to US officials, these plans cannot be realized in the near future. Negotiations on technology transfer continue, but the parties will not be able to reach an agreement before the start of winter.
