The Pentagon Signs Agreements to Increase Production of THAAD and Patriot Missiles

The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Monday the signing of two 7-year agreements with "General Dynamics" (GD-OTS) and "Lockheed Martin" to increase missile production.

The department stated that the agreements, which are multi-year purchase agreements, aim to "increase production quantities and accelerate delivery schedules for critical subcomponents of missiles" that support the "THAAD" (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and "Patriot PAC-3 MSE" missile programs.

Under the new agreements, "General Dynamics" will expand the production of specialized components for interceptors, with production goals including increasing the production capacity of "PAC-3 MSE" missiles to three times its current level and increasing the production capacity of "THAAD" missiles to four times its current level.

The depletion of U.S. munitions in the Iran war has raised concerns about weakening Washington's ability to face potential threats from China and Russia, according to U.S. officials.

The agreements aim to increase the production of essential subcomponents, including engine structures, seeker pods, mid-body parts of missiles, and protective cover deployment systems.

The Pentagon stated that the funding for these agreements is subject to the annual appropriations approved by Congress.

It added that the agreements provide the industry with a "stable and long-term signal" regarding demand, by ensuring a minimum level of annual purchase quantities, which enables "General Dynamics" and its suppliers to make long-term investments in expanding the workforce, purchasing materials in bulk, and developing facilities.

The "THAAD" (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) program aims to intercept ballistic missiles, while "PAC-3 MSE" refers to the "Missile Segment Enhancement" version of the "Patriot Advanced Capability-3" interceptor missile.

The new agreements come as part of the United States' trend to increase air and missile defense capabilities, with the focus of the agreements on the critical subcomponents necessary for producing interceptor missiles and accelerating their delivery.

Earlier last month, the Pentagon announced the signing of a $22.9 billion contract with Raytheon to accelerate the production of Tomahawk missiles, which represent one of the United States' key long-range strike capabilities.

The Washington Post reported that the U.S. Department of Defense has sent letters to defense companies urging them to increase weapons production.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to finalize multi-year contracts with the largest American defense contractors, which gives these companies the confidence to invest billions of dollars in new facilities and equipment.

Additionally, the U.S. Army signed agreements earlier last month to increase the production of components for the Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems.

The conservative American Enterprise Institute recently issued a report discussing the U.S. Army's efforts to increase the production of vital munitions, stating that the Pentagon's plans rely, in some cases, on fundamental assumptions, including achieving a significant increase in defense industry production.

The report noted, for example, that replacing the interceptor missiles of the THAAD high-altitude air defense system, which were used during the Iran War, could take years.