Special Report: US companies agree to invest in increased production capacity for THAAD, PrSM

THAAD systems have been deployed to the CENTCOM area of responsibility regularly in recent years. (378th Air Expeditionary Wing)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has signed multiple framework agreements with four major defence contractors to increase production of missiles and their components for Operation ‘Epic Fury' in Iran.

The agreements will invest in production facilities for Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) seekers, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seekers, and other electronic components, according to multiple recent statements. The government cannot buy more munitions without approval from lawmakers.

A DoD spokesperson declined to answer additional questions from Janes.

Strikes in Iran as well as defences against Iranian cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past month have taken a toll on US missile stores. The agreements come after defence executives were invited to the White House in early March to discuss expended weapons. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other officials have said that munitions stockpiles are sufficient to support the US military objectives during the operation.

Each agreement is “a core component of the department's broader effort to place the acquisition system on a ‘wartime footing', prioritizing speed and flexibility to outpace adversaries”, according to a 1 April DoD statement.

THAAD

Both THAAD and Patriot interceptors have been used to defend US installations and ground assets in the Middle East in recent weeks, according to DoD statements.

Iran's ability to launch missiles at US targets is trending downward, Joint Chief of Staff General Dan Caine told reporters on 31 March. But “they are still shooting”, he said.