Lockheed Martin has secured a $142.6 million contract modification to maintain sustainment support for the United Arab Emirates’ THAAD missile defense system, further extending U.S. backing for Gulf missile defense efforts through the Foreign Military Sales program. The award highlights the growing importance of integrated, high-altitude defense systems amid escalating ballistic and cruise missile threats in the region.
The modification brings the cumulative value of the THAAD sustainment program for the UAE to $876.7 million, underscoring the system’s central role in the Emirates’ air and missile defense planning. Under the agreement, Lockheed Martin Space will continue providing comprehensive lifecycle support for the UAE’s two operational THAAD batteries through August 2028.
Support activities include logistics and operator training, hardware and software development, interceptor and ground system repair, field surveillance, and specialized engineering adapted to the UAE’s operational environment. Work will be conducted across several U.S. locations, including California, Texas, and Arkansas, in addition to in-country support within the Emirates.
Designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, THAAD employs kinetic hit-to-kill technology to destroy threats at high altitude. Within the UAE, the system forms the upper layer of a multi-tier defense network, complementing Patriot batteries and enhancing protection against evolving regional missile arsenals.
The contract’s sole-source structure reflects Lockheed Martin’s unique position as the system’s original designer and integrator, with unmatched access to THAAD’s interceptor, radar, and fire-control architecture. U.S. defense officials characterize the continued sustainment effort as a key element of regional deterrence and a demonstration of enduring U.S.–UAE defense industrial cooperation, with the Emirates remaining one of Washington’s most significant FMS partners worldwide.
