Lockheed Awarded Modification For THAAD | Finland Chooses Next MVX Plane Supplier | Ukraine Sends Helicopters To Pakistan

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $180 million modification for the production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Interceptors and associated one-shot devices to support the US government. The THAAD Interceptors and associated one-shot devices will be procured under fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract line items. THAAD is a United States Army anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, which is the final stage of their flight before they hit their target. The system uses kinetic energy to destroy incoming missiles by colliding with them in mid-air. It consists of a radar unit, a launcher, and interceptor missiles that can be deployed anywhere in the world to provide protection against ballistic missile threats. The work will be performed in Dallas, Texas; Sunnyvale, California; Huntsville, Alabama; Camden, Arkansas; and Troy, Alabama, with an expected completion date of March 1, 2028.

Raytheon won a $10 million deal for the repair of the towed auxiliary radar antenna system, position tracking system and APY9 radar receiver system in support of the E2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in El Segundo, California, and work is expected to be completed by May 2026.

Middle East & Africa

A squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets, specially modified to nearly triple their bomb loads, has been dispatched to the Middle East to boost US airpower in the region amid increased tensions with Iran-backed forces in Syria. They will get software updates enabling them to carry up to 16 Small Diameter Bombs within weeks, said Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who leads Air Forces Central Command.

Europe

Finland chose Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and three other companies for the next phase of its MVX border surveillance jet program. The American firm, L3Harris Technologies, Field Aerospace, and Swedish company ST Airborne Systems are moving to the Intermediate Request for Quote (RFQ) phase involving the first round of contract terms negotiations.

Ukraine will send Mi-17 helicopter engines and spare parts to Pakistan as a sign of their enhanced defense partnership, according to a report by The Economic Times. The agreement is Kyiv’s display of gratitude to Islamabad for sending weapons and equipment to help fight off invading Russian forces.

Asia-Pacific

The South Korean government has approved a plan for long-range missile defense system development. The long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) II will be developed from 2024-2035 for $2.03 billion, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

Today’s Video

WATCH: THAAD: America’s Super Shield against Ballistic Missiles

THAAD: Reach Out and Touch Ballistic Missiles

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is a long-range, land-based theater defense weapon that acts as the upper tier of a basic 2-tiered defense against ballistic missiles. It’s designed to intercept missiles during late mid-course or final stage flight, flying at high altitudes within and even outside the atmosphere. This allows it to provide broad area coverage against threats to critical assets such as population centers and industrial resources as well as military forces, hence its previous “theater (of operations) high altitude area defense” designation.

This capability makes THAAD different from a Patriot PAC-3 or the future MEADS system, which are point defense options with limited range that are designed to hit a missile or warhead just before impact. The SM-3 Standard missile is a far better comparison, and land-based SM-3 programs will make it a direct THAAD competitor. So far, both programs remain underway.