Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $2.4-billion contract to produce PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles for the US Army.
According to the US Department of Defense, the deal will also support foreign military sales to allied nations, which include war-torn Ukraine.
Work for the contract will be performed in Texas and is expected to be complete by December 2029.
The US Army Contracting Command in Alabama will oversee the supply.
PAC-3 Features
Lockheed Martin’s Patriot is a long-range, all-altitude air defense system designed to counter cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and sophisticated aircraft.
Its most advanced configuration, the PAC-3, features increased effectiveness because of its hit-to-kill technology.
It releases kinetic energy by hitting the target head-on, enabling improved target destruction.
Additionally, it boasts a maximum range of 40 kilometers (25 miles), twice more than the PAC-2 configuration.
Arrival in Ukraine
Earlier this month, Ukraine confirmed that it received the first Patriot air defense systems promised by the US government.
The arrival marks an important milestone for Kyiv, which is reportedly being targeted by up to 20 Russian guided bombs per day.
“Today, our beautiful Ukrainian sky becomes more secure because Patriot air defense systems have arrived in Ukraine,” Ukrainian defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.
“Our air defenders have mastered them as fast as they could. And our partners have kept their word.”
