In what will bring about the first delivery of the PAC-3 missile to an overseas nation, the U.S. Army has awarded a contract valued at $532 million to Lockheed Martin for the delivery of 156 PAC-3 missiles. Under the terms of the contract, Lockheed Martin will deliver 156 of these missiles to the U.S. Army. However, 32 will then be delivered to the Netherlands and 16 missiles to Japan. These two nations will receive their missiles under Foreign Military Sale agreements.

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The PAC-3 missile is currently the world’s only fielded hit-to-kill, pure kinetic energy air defense missile. The contract includes launcher modification kits as well as spares kits and other ancillary ground equipment.

Lockheed Martin is also the prime contractor for the PAC-3 missile segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system. This upgrade comprises the PAC-3 missile, the PAC-3 missile canister (which holds four PAC-3 missiles), a fire solution computer and an enhanced launcher electronics system. These elements are being integrated into the Patriot system, the high-to-medium altitude, long-range air defense missile system that provides air defense of ground combat forces and high-value assets.

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command in Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting agency. Delivery of all missiles and equipment should be completed by the end of 2006. Manufacture will take place at Lockheed Martin facilities in Dallas and Lufkin, Tx, and in Camden, Ark.

The PAC-3 missiles will be deployed in conjunction with terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) missiles to provide a layered coverage. PAC-3 supplies the lower-tier defense against air and missile threats while THAAD provides upper-tier coverage against ballistic missiles. THAAD flight testing is scheduled for later this year.