MELBOURNE, Fla. — L3Harris Technologies has received an undefinitized contract valued at more than $6 billion from Lockheed Martin to significantly expand propulsion system manufacturing for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air and missile defense system over a seven-year performance period. The award operationalizes a framework agreement established with the Department of Defense to quadruple THAAD propulsion output, addressing surging global demand for upper-tier ballistic missile interceptors.
The multi-billion-dollar procurement covers both the single-stage Solid Rocket Boost Motor and the high-precision Liquid Divert and Attitude Control System (LDACS) used on the THAAD kinetic kill vehicle. To meet the expanded production schedule, L3Harris will construct a new manufacturing facility to support solid rocket booster fabrication while expanding assembly capacity for LDACS units. Operating alongside recent propulsion scaling for the PAC-3 MSE, the seven-year agreement establishes long-term industrial capacity to sustain hit-to-kill interception architecture against short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: THAAD PROPULSION EXPANSION & INTERCEPTOR ARCHITECTURE
* System Classification: Upper-Tier Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) / Kinetic Hit-to-Kill Interceptor Propulsion
* Customer & System Integrator: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (Prime Contractor for Missile Defense Agency / U.S. Army)
* Subcontractor & Propulsion Authority: L3Harris Technologies (Missile Solutions / Aerojet Rocketdyne Division)
* Contract Structure & Value: $6.0+ Billion undefinitized contract (excluding escalations) over a 7-year execution window
* Industrial Scaling Objective: Quadruple baseline THAAD propulsion manufacturing capacity
* Infrastructure Expansion: Construction of a new L3Harris manufacturing facility for Solid Rocket Boost Motors + expanded LDACS production lines
* Primary Propulsion Components:
* Solid Rocket Boost Motor: High-thrust single-stage solid propellant booster with vectoring nozzle for initial launch and endoatmospheric acceleration
* Liquid Divert & Attitude Control System (LDACS): High-precision, rapid-throttling liquid propellant reaction control system providing millimeter-level kinetic maneuvering for hit-to-kill terminal interception
* THAAD Interceptor Physical Parameters:
* Dimensions: Length: 6.17 meters (20.2 ft) | Diameter: 370 mm (14.5 in)
* Mass Parameters: Launch weight ~900 kg (~1,980 lbs)
* Threat Engagement Spectrum: Short-Range (SRBM), Medium-Range (MRBM), and Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM)
* Flight Performance Envelope:
* Maximum Velocity: Mach 8.2 (2,800 m/s / ~10,000 km/h)
* Engagement Range: 200+ km
* Interception Altitude Ceiling: 150 km (Exoatmospheric and high endoatmospheric engagement layer)
* Guidance & Kinetic Kill Mechanism: Indium Antimonide (InSb) focal plane array optical IR seeker paired with LDACS divert maneuvering for direct hit-to-kill impact (no explosive warhead)
