Defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced Friday it has been awarded a massive $4.7 billion preliminary contract by the federal government to accelerate manufacturing of Patriot interceptor missiles.
The agreement covers production of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) and builds on a seven-year deal with the Defense Department aimed at more than tripling yearly output as nations face rising global security threats.
President Trump has directed the Defense Department to rebrand as the Department of War, though such a change would need Congressional approval.
The PAC-3 MSE serves as the Army’s main high-to-medium altitude interceptor technology and represents a cornerstone of American and allied air defense capabilities.
Current stockpiles of the PAC-3 MSE face significant strain following extensive deployment in the Gulf region to counter Iranian attacks, while Ukraine depends on these systems to protect critical energy facilities and military sites from ballistic missile threats. The manufacturing increase is not expected to alleviate supply shortages within the current year.
The State Department gave approval earlier this year for a potential $9 billion sale of PAC-3 MSE systems and associated equipment to Saudi Arabia.
