US government awards Lockheed Martin $74 million contract to build THAAD weapon system

News, US April 29, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin a $74 million contract to produce the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System

The award amount covers the production of an eighth THAAD battery for the U.S. government. It’s expected to be fielded by 2025, the Lockheed Martin press release read.

Vice President of Upper Tier Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Dan Nimblett said “This award demonstrates the U.S. government’s continued confidence in the THAAD Weapon System and in its unique endo- and exo-atmospheric defense capability.”

Nimblett emphasized that “With 16 of 16 successful flight test intercepts and recent combat success clearly documenting the effectiveness of THAAD, adding an eighth battery will further enhance readiness against existing and evolving ballistic missile threats.”

The first THAAD Battery (Alpha Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade) was activated in May 2008 and the seventh THAAD battery was activated by the U.S. Army in December 2016.

*^{Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

According to the defense firm statement, “THAAD is a highly effective, combat-proven defense against short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.”

“THAAD is the only U.S. system designed to intercept targets outside and inside the atmosphere. The system uses Hit-to-Kill technology to destroy a threat with direct impact neutralizing lethal payloads before they reach protected assets on the ground. THAAD continues incremental capability improvements within the weapon system to continually improve capability against current and emerging threats,” the release added.