Lockheed Martin has been awarded $459 million contract modification from the Missile Defense Agency for production and delivery of interceptors for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system, the company announced on 26 January.

The modification increases the total value of the THAAD contract to $1.28 billion.

The new interceptors will support US Army THAAD units and emerging operational requirements.

THAAD is a part of the Ballistic Missile Defence System (BMDS), helping protect the US military, allied forces, citizen population centres and critical infrastructure against short- to medium-range ballistic missile attacks.

The system uses ‘hit-to-kill’ technology to counter missile threats. The quickly deployable system is mobile, and is interoperable with all other BMDS elements, including Patriot/PAC-3, Aegis, forward-based sensors and the command, control, battle management and communications system.

Richard McDaniel, vice president for the THAAD system, Lockheed Martin, said: ‘The THAAD system's capability and reliability have been demonstrated with 15 out of 15 hit-to-kill intercepts dating back to 1999, and by exceeding readiness rates currently being experienced in the field with operationally deployed batteries.

‘THAAD interceptors defeat dangerous missile threats our troops and allies are facing today, and have capability against advancing future threats. Our focus on affordability, coupled with efficiencies of increased volume, is providing significant cost-savings opportunities to meet growing demand from the US and allies around the globe.’