Lockheed Martin Secures $142.6m Contract to Sustain UAE’s THAAD Missile Defense Batteries

The United States Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin Space a $142.6 million contract modification to continue operations, maintenance, and sustainment support for two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries operated by the United Arab Emirates, according to an official contract announcement.

The non-competitive modification—designated P00073—falls under an existing Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case for the UAE and increases the total contract value to $876.7 million. The contracting activity is managed by the Missile Defense Agency from Huntsville, Alabama, under contract HQ0147-19-C-5001.

Scope of Work: Sustainment Through 2028

The contract modification provides comprehensive support to keep the UAE’s THAAD batteries fully mission-ready. The scope includes:

• Operations, maintenance, and logistics management
• Maintenance of a logistics product database
• Training support for operators and maintainers
• Missile and ground repair and return activities
• Hardware and software development and sustainment
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing capabilities
• Engineering services and missile field surveillance
• Country-specific specialty engineering for the FMS customer

Work will be performed across multiple locations, including sites in the UAE and U.S. facilities in Sunnyvale, California; Grand Prairie, Texas; Camden, Arkansas; Huntsville and Anniston, Alabama; and Troy, Alabama. The performance period runs from January 2026 through August 2028, with $142.62 million in UAE FMS funds obligated at the time of award. One offer was solicited and received.

THAAD’s Role in Regional Missile Defense

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense is a U.S.-developed missile defense system designed to intercept short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase using hit-to-kill technology. THAAD is a cornerstone of U.S. and allied ballistic missile defense architectures and is operated by the U.S. military and a small number of international partners.

A Decade of THAAD Operations in the UAE

The UAE recently marked ten years since receiving its first THAAD battery, becoming the Missile Defense Agency’s first FMS customer and the system’s first international operator. Lockheed Martin delivered the first battery in October 2015, positioning THAAD as a core element of the UAE’s missile defense posture.

At the time of delivery, the UAE already operated Patriot PAC-3 air and missile defense systems. Integrating THAAD created a layered defense architecture designed to counter a broad spectrum of ballistic missile threats.

Why Sustainment Matters

Defense officials note that sustained readiness for complex missile defense systems requires continuous logistics, engineering, and software support. The latest modification is intended to ensure system availability, interceptor readiness, and seamless integration with other air and missile defense assets in the UAE’s inventory.