Pentagon inks new missile deals with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman
by Joe Fisher · UPIAug. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense has reached framework agreements with defense manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to scale up missile production.
The Pentagon announced the deals on Monday, seeking to quadruple production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense components and triple production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.
"Building the Arsenal of Freedom requires robust, dynamic supply chains at every level of the industrial base," Michael Duffey, Pentagon undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, said in a statement. "Framework agreements with munition components suppliers like Northrop Grumman are vital to accelerating the tripling PAC-3 and quadrupling of THAAD interceptor production."
The agreement will create a second source of production for solid rocket motors for PAC-3 missiles. The Pentagon said this will strengthen the supply chain.
Production dedicated to the THAAD program will include manufacturing mid-body shells, muzzle covers and rail car assemblies.
The Pentagon has not disclosed the terms of these agreements including the costs and timelines for production to begin. However, Northrop Grumman said it has entered agreements worth a combined $3 billion.
"Our long-term investments in breakthrough manufacturing technologies and resilient supply chains let us pivot from steady production to a production surge in record time," Ben Davies, Northrop Grumman vice president, said in a statement. "As one of America's leading producers of solid rocket motors, we're supporting the administration's push to accelerate munitions output."