DALLAS, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- THAAD missile launchers, fire control equipment and other systems are being provided to the U.S. Army by Lockheed Martin under a new $150 million contract.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Weapon System is a key element of U.S. ballistic missile defense, providing the capability to intercept and destroy in-coming enemy missiles in both the endo- and exo-atmosphere.
A total of 12 launchers will be provided under the award. Six are for the Army's THAAD Battery 5. Batteries 1 and 2 will receive three launchers each.
Receipt of the additional launchers will bring each battery up to the six-launcher configuration requirement.
Two fire control units, communications systems and support equipment will be delivered by Lockheed Martin, which first received THAAD production orders for the Army's first two batteries in 2006 and subsequent batteries last year.
"THAAD brings advanced hit-to-kill technology to the warfighter combined with ease of operation designed into the system," said Mat Joyce, Lockheed Martin's vice president and program manager for the THAAD Weapon System.
"Our focus remains squarely on program execution so we can meet the delivery needs of our U.S. Army customer."
Lockheed Martin said assembly, integration and testing of production equipment will take place at its facility in Camden, Ark., and that delivery of equipment for Battery 5 will be completed by 2015.
THAAD is a program of the Missile Defense Agency. Its missiles have completed 12 flight tests since 2005 and achieved nine-for-nine missile intercepts.
