PAC-3

Northrop Grumman has secured a $3 billion framework deal to increase production of solid rocket motors for the PAC-3 and THAAD systems. The agreement enables the company to become a second supplier of these motors for the PAC-3 interceptor.

The U.S.-made Patriot system is being challenged by new cheaper anti-ballistic projects like Ukraine's Freyja, developed through a European-Ukrainian coalition, as global demand for cost-effective missile defenses surges. Lockheed Martin has also introduced a cheaper Patriot variant and received a $53.86 billion Pentagon contract to boost production.

The U.S. Army added $54 billion to a Lockheed Martin PAC-3 contract, bringing the total to $59 billion. The contract remains undefinitized, meaning its financial details and quantities are subject to change during ongoing negotiations.

The Pentagon has entered a seven-year deal with L3Harris to increase production of rocket motors for PAC-3 and THAAD interceptors, though the agreement is not yet finalized.

X-Bow Systems unveiled Buckler, a sub-$100,000 drone interceptor designed to neutralize Group 3 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) at supersonic speeds. The system addresses the cost imbalance of using multimillion-dollar interceptors against cheaper threats like Iran’s Shahed drones, with X-Bow emphasizing in-house production to avoid supply chain bottlenecks.

Ukraine received a U.S. license to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors from President Trump, but experts say production of these systems will take years. Ukraine's current air defenses failed to intercept 29 Russian ballistic missiles attacking Kyiv, highlighting urgent needs for immediate countermeasures.