The Department of War has signed new framework agreements with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin aimed at dramatically expanding U.S. interceptor production, increasing PAC-3 Patriot Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) capacity from about 600 missiles per year to 2,000 per year, while expanding THAAD interceptor production from 96 to 400 interceptors annually.
The agreements are designed to strengthen the missile defense industrial base by establishing a second source for PAC-3 solid rocket motors, expanding production of ignition safety devices, and increasing output of critical THAAD structural components to create a more resilient supply chain.
The announcement comes after months of reporting from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reuters, and The Washington Post that the Iran war has sharply increased demand for Patriot and THAAD interceptors, with senior U.S. military leaders warning that sustained operations have placed growing pressure on both interceptor inventories and the industrial base needed to replenish them.
