- U.S. Defense Secretary Austin and his Israeli counterpart discussed deploying the THAAD missile defense system.
- The meeting took place at the Pentagon
This discussion reflects the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's defense, especially in times of heightened regional tensions, a Pentagon spokesperson said.
Background Info: The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. It plays a crucial role in missile defense by targeting threats both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere. U.S.-Israeli defense cooperation has a long history, especially following the 1970s. Israel already utilizes advanced U.S.-made defense systems like Iron Dome, and the potential THAAD deployment would further enhance its missile interception capabilities amid evolving regional security challenges.
June 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a multi-year contract worth $4.5 billion for its air defense Patriot Missiles system, the Pentagon said on Friday.
The contract covers 870 PAC-3 MSE missiles and associated hardware.
Lockheed is manufacturing the newest version of the interceptors that arm the Patriot, known as PAC-3 MSE, which cost about $4 million each, according to Army budget documents.
The company will provide JDAM tail kits and other supplies under the sole-source fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, the Pentagon said Friday. The company will work on the kits, as well as spares, repairs, technical assistance and laser JDAM sensor kits, at its St Louis, Missouri, facility through the end of February 2030.
The contract’s period of performance is set to run through 2029, according to the Pentagon notice. The Air Force is notionally planning to retire the dual-capable B-2 in the early 2030s — replacing it with the B-21 Raider, also a Northrop Grumman product — meaning this award could be one of the last for the iconic stealth bomber.