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The US Department of War has awarded Lockheed Martin with a seven-year contract to develop PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors.
The contract, valued at up to US$53 billion, will allow Lockheed Martin to rapidly boost the production of the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancements (MSE) to align with the Department of War’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy, which aims to increase the speed of US defence manufacturing and uplift the industrial base through workforce and engagement.
“Today’s announcement turns concept into reality, providing industry with the long-term demand signals it needs to build a resilient supply chain, scale production and deliver critical capabilities to our Warfighters at the speed of relevance,” said Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment.
The PAC-3 MSE is an advanced air and missile interceptor that has been delivered for use in operations around the world, such as in Ukraine.
Defending against ballistic and cruise missiles, the interceptors use Ka-band radars to assess range, angles and other specifics to ensure the threat is successfully mitigated.
It maintains high velocity to align with “hit-to-kill” features, which the weapons manufacturer outlined as “sensing the threat” through strong accuracy, “guidance” through using algorithms, simulations and trials to ensure effective use, “hitting the threat”, and “lethality”.
Lockheed Martin said the awarding of this contract represents the US government’s work with the defence industry to strengthen national goals of ensuring sovereign defence manufactures can support country-wide goals of delivering advanced defence capabilities.
“This is a once-in-a-generation moment and we are moving with wartime urgency to deliver the Arsenal of Freedom,” said Lockheed Martin’s chairman, president and CEO, Jim Taiclet.
“Lockheed Martin is sparing no effort with our investment, hiring and facility upgrades as we deliver on the government’s acquisition transformation.”
The contract is expected to support a 50 per cent rise in jobs and back Lockheed’s wider investment of up to $9 billion to modernise their facilities and increase munitions delivery.
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