DALLAS, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has given a $3.9 billion order to Lockheed Martin to produce more missile interceptors for the U.S. Army and the United Arab Emirates.
The contract covers 110 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Weapons System missile interceptors for the Army, and an undisclosed number of missiles and system equipment for the United States' Middle East ally.
Lockheed Martin is focused on delivering these key components of the THAAD Weapon System to our customers," said Mathew Joyce, vice president and program manager for THAAD at Lockheed Martin. "We continue to see strong interest from around the globe for the unique capabilities THAAD can provide."
THAAD is designed to destroy short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal stage through kinetic impact. Since 2005, the THAAD development program has completed 13 flight tests, with 11 successful intercepts in 11 attempts.
Lockheed Martin is under contract for five THAAD batteries for the U.S. Army. Deliveries of Batteries 3 and 4 are under way, with final completion expected in December of this year.
