Article Posted on : - Aug 20, 2012

THAAD Weapon System. A Lockheed Martin photo.

DALLAS (BNS): The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded Lockheed Martin a $150 million contract to produce Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System launchers and fire control and communications equipment for the US Army.

The contract includes 12 launchers, two fire control and communications units, and associated support equipment. This contract will provide six launchers for THAAD Battery 5 and an additional three launchers each to Batteries 1 and 2.

These deliveries will bring all Batteries to the standard six launcher configurations. Ground hardware from this award will be delivered to Fort Bliss, Texas. A production contract for the first two Batteries was awarded to Lockheed Martin in late 2006. Contracts for Batteries 3 and 4 were awarded in 2011. Delivery of equipment for Battery 5 will be completed by 2015.

THAAD is a Missile Defense Agency program. The agency is developing the BMDS to defend the United States, its deployed forces and allies against short and medium range ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of flight.