Why is the US investing nearly $59 billion in missiles? The answer lies in two ongoing conflicts.
Wars in Ukraine and Iran are putting heavy pressure on American weapons stockpiles, and Washington is racing to replenish one of its most critical air defence systems.
The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles through 2032.
The deal expands an earlier one-year agreement into a seven-year procurement plan designed to dramatically boost production.
Officials say the Pentagon wants defence manufacturers to speed up deliveries as demand for advanced air-defence weapons continues to surge.
President Donald Trump has also pushed contractors to prioritise production.
He warned that companies should focus on fulfilling government contracts before rewarding shareholders.
Lockheed Accelerates Patriot Build-Up
Lockheed says the investment will allow it to triple production of its PAC-3 MSE Patriot interceptors by 2030.
It will also expand its Arkansas facility and create hundreds of new jobs.
The company is also investing up to $9 billion to modernise more than 20 US facilities.
Security analysts believe the urgency is justified.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates the US has fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptors remaining.
After extensive deployments in both Europe and the Middle East.
In modern warfare, victory isn’t just about having advanced weapons and it’s about producing them faster than they’re used.
