In particular, the agreement with Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems involves increasing the production of self-guided missile warheads for THAAD systems by four times.
Deputy Secretary of Defense for Procurement and Sustainment, Michael Duffy, noted: "Maintaining the security of our supply chain is as important as our collaboration with key contractors. This agreement with BAE Systems sends a clear signal about long-term demand. We are providing our partners with the confidence they need to expand and hire new employees. This is the way to ensure the combat readiness of our industrial base."
The Department of Defense assures that the country's capabilities to produce and deploy this critically important defensive weaponry will surpass any threats posed by adversaries, both for the United States and for their allies.
Additionally, the Pentagon, in collaboration with Honeywell Aerospace, announced the signing of a framework agreement to increase the production of vital components, including navigation systems and electronic warfare technologies. An agreement was also reached with Lockheed Martin aimed at accelerating the release of precision strike missiles.
According to Reuters, since the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, as well as during military actions in Gaza, the United States has reduced its stockpiles of weapons by billions of dollars, including artillery, ammunition, and anti-tank missile systems.
