Lockheed Martin wins $789.8 million THAAD production contract

DALLAS, 31 March 2011. Lockheed Martin won a $789.8 million production contract to produce the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System for the Missile Defense Agency. The contract includes $694.9 million for the production of 48 THAAD interceptors, six THAAD launchers, four fire control units, and additional support equipment, as well as a $94.8 million option for additional launchers. These components will be employed by THAAD Batteries 3 and 4 for the U.S. Army. Delivery to these Batteries will be completed in 2013.

"We have great confidence in the production plans established to deliver the THAAD weapon system to the warfighter as soon as possible," says Tom McGrath, vice president and program manager for THAAD at Lockheed Martin. "Lockheed Martin remains focused on ensuring THAAD is reliable, affordable, and effective."

THAAD interceptors are produced at Lockheed Martin's Pike County Facility in Troy, Ala. The launchers and fire control units are produced at the company's Camden, Ark., facility.

The THAAD missile defense system can intercept both the endo- and exo-atmospheres to provide versatile capability to the warfighter. Two THAAD Batteries have been activated at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The first THAAD Battery (A-4 ADA Battery) was activated in May 2008. A contract for the delivery of the first two U.S. Army Batteries was awarded to Lockheed Martin in late 2006. In October 2009, the U.S. Army activated the second THAAD Battery (A-2 ADA Battery). Unit training for this Battery began earlier this year.