Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles walk on their way to inspect a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptor unit deployed at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Dec. 7, 2025. File Pool Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense has reached framework agreements with defense manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to scale up missile production.
The Pentagon announced the deals on Monday, seeking to quadruple production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense components and triple production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.
"Building the Arsenal of Freedom requires robust, dynamic supply chains at every level of the industrial base," Michael Duffey, Pentagon undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, said in a statement. "Framework agreements with munition components suppliers like Northrop Grumman are vital to accelerating the tripling PAC-3 and quadrupling of THAAD interceptor production."
The agreement will create a second source of production for solid rocket motors for PAC-3 missiles. The Pentagon said this will strengthen the supply chain.
