Contract for Lockheed Martin for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense element development


According to a contract released by the U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) on August 28, 2020, Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, California, is being awarded a $911,765,000 modification (P00049) for existing sole source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract HQ0147-12-D-0001 for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) element development and support services.
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U.S. Army Soldiers from Bravo Battery, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment system checks a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launcher during routine start up procedures in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, June 25, 2020. (Picture source U.S. DoD)


This modification provides for the extension of the period of performance for additional incremental development, support to flight and ground test programs and responsive support to warfighter requirements to sustain the Ballistic Missile Defense System throughout the acquisition life cycle. Expected completion dates will be established under subsequent task order awards. The work will be performed at Sunnyvale, California; and Huntsville, Alabama.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is an American anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to shoot down short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase (descent or reentry) by intercepting with a hit-to-kill approach with a range of 200 km. 

The THAAD system is being designed, built, and integrated by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control acting as a prime contractor. Key subcontractors include Raytheon, Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Honeywell, BAE Systems, Oshkosh Defense, and MiltonCAT.

There are four main components to THAAD: the launcher, interceptors, radar, and fire control. The launcher is mounted on a truck for mobility and storability. There are eight interceptors per launcher. Current Army configurations of THAAD batteries include six launchers and 48 interceptors, though certain reports indicate that this could be scaled up to nine launchers and 72 interceptors.

The THAAD uses Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance (AN/TPY-2), which is the largest air-transportable X-band Radar to search, track, and discriminate objects at a range of up 1,000 km and provide tracking data to the missile interceptor. The fire control unit is the communications backbone of the battery linking the THAAD components and linking the THAAD battery to external command and control and other BMDS elements. It has undergone numerous intercept, non-intercept, and interoperability tests and boasts a current record of 15/15 successful tests.