Lockheed Martin has successfully delivered the Minimum Engagement Package (MEP) for the eighth Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the U.S. government. The MEP includes three launchers and a fire control unit, which will be integrated with Raytheon Technologies’ AN/TPY-2 radar system. The rest of the equipment is expected to arrive later this summer. This delivery marks a key milestone that significantly boosts the U.S. Army’s capability to protect vital assets both domestically and internationally from ballistic missile threats.
Since 1987, Lockheed Martin has served as the prime contractor for the THAAD system, contributing critically to its ongoing development, production, and deployment. The first U.S. THAAD battery, designated A-4, was delivered and activated in May 2008. In 2022, the Missile Defense Agency awarded a contract for the production of the eighth battery. Adding this battery will enhance the military’s flexibility and responsiveness to evolving threats worldwide, safeguard essential infrastructure and population centers, and strengthen the overall U.S. missile defense framework.
THAAD is a combat-proven, advanced hit-to-kill missile defense system capable of intercepting and neutralizing ballistic missiles both inside and outside the earth’s atmosphere. With unmatched speed, accuracy, and a 100% flight test intercept success rate, THAAD delivers a crucial protective layer against short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile attacks. Its proven effectiveness and immediate readiness continue to attract global interest from the air defense community.
