Lockheed Martin Launches Eighth THAAD Battery in Support of U.S. Missile Defense Strategy
Lockheed Martin Set to Manufacture Eighth THAAD Battery for US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
25.04.2022 North America
Lockheed Martin Set to Manufacture Eighth THAAD Battery for US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
Lockheed Martin has secured a contract worth $74 million to create the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). This funding pertains to the assembly of an additional THAAD battery for the U.S. government, anticipated to be operational by 2025.
“This contract underscores the U.S. government’s ongoing trust in the THAAD Weapon System and its distinctive endo- and exo-atmospheric defensive capabilities,” stated Dan Nimblett, Vice President of Upper Tier Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
“With a flawless record of 16 successful flight test interceptions and recent operational victories validating the efficacy of THAAD, the addition of an eighth battery will amplify readiness against both existing and newly emerging ballistic missile threats,” he elaborated.
The inaugural THAAD Battery (Alpha Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade) was commissioned in May 2008, while the seventh THAAD battery was activated by the U.S. Army in December 2016.
THAAD is a remarkably effective, battle-tested defense solution against short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. THAAD represents the sole U.S. system designed to intercept targets both outside and within the atmosphere. This system employs Hit-to-Kill technology to eliminate threats through direct impact, neutralizing hazardous payloads prior to their reaching protected assets on the ground. Continuous incremental enhancements are being made to the THAAD weapon system to bolster its capabilities against current and evolving risks.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation stands as a premier global security and aerospace entity, employing around 114,000 personnel worldwide. The company is primarily focused on the research, design, development, manufacturing, integration, and maintenance of cutting-edge technological systems, products, and services.
