Lockheed Martin has secured a $142.6-million contract modification to extend sustainment and support services for two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries operated by the United Arab Emirates. Issued under an existing foreign military sales framework, the award raises the total value of the UAE THAAD sustainment program to approximately $876.7 million. The agreement encompasses a wide range of activities, including logistics support, personnel training, missile and ground system maintenance, engineering services, surveillance support, and ongoing hardware and software development. While the work will be executed primarily in the UAE, supporting activities will be carried out across multiple US locations, including California, Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama. The contract will remain in force through August 2028, with delivery milestones coordinated in close alignment with the US Missile Defense Agency. THAAD is designed to intercept and destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase using hit-to-kill kinetic technology rather than explosive warheads. The interceptor measures roughly 20 feet in length, weighs about 2,000 pounds, and can engage threats at ranges of up to 120 miles at speeds exceeding Mach 8. The extension underscores the UAE’s continued reliance on THAAD as a cornerstone of its layered missile defense architecture.
