Ukraine and the Middle East in the background: Washington expands production of Patriot and THAAD systems

The U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced on Monday that it had signed a framework agreement with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to increase production capacity for components used in the Patriot and THAAD interceptor systems.

Pentagon negotiators are pressing defense contractors to accelerate the implementation of preliminary production agreements reached earlier this year to boost missile manufacturing, as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continue to put increasing pressure on U.S. weapons stockpiles.

Ukraine is facing a chronic shortage of Patriot missiles, which remain the only weapons in its arsenal capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

In a statement released on Monday, the Pentagon said that the framework agreement would make it possible to triple the production of Patriot missiles and quadruple the output of THAAD systems.

The U.S. Department of Defense did not disclose the financial value of the agreement, but stated that it would establish a second source of solid-rocket motors for Patriot missiles and increase the production of ignition safety devices.

The announcement follows an agreement signed last week by the U.S. Army, under which Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract worth up to 58.6 billion dollars to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles.