Northrop awarded $46 million for Navy JCREW EW systems

Northrop Grumman said it will quadruple production of THAAD missile defense components at its Miramar, San Diego facility under a $3 billion Department of Defense agreement announced Aug. 3. The deal involves Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin to accelerate interceptor production, with Northrop planning to invest millions to add space and equipment to reach a 4x rate.

The Pentagon is pressing weapons makers to accelerate production after U.S. missile shortages tied to the Iran war. CSIS analysis says Patriot interceptor stocks fell from about 2,330 to 759-827, and THAAD from about 452 to 234-278. Reuters reports the Army used “virtually all” ATACMS and PrSM. The Pentagon is awarding contracts with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

The Pentagon asked weapons manufacturers to submit within 21 days plans to increase production and accelerate delivery of critical capabilities, according to a memo cited by The Washington Post and confirmed by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. The effort is to inform the FY2028 budget. The article also cites framework agreements, including Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin to expand PAC-3 and THAAD capacity.

The Pentagon said its 30-year procurement model is structurally broken and ordered contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and RTX to propose plans within 21 days for faster delivery and higher production. The move follows CSIS estimates that Patriot and THAAD interceptor stockpiles fell at least 65% and 38%. It also includes framework deals with Northrop Grumman and large Lockheed and THAAD contracts.

A Defense Department memo obtained by The Washington Post says Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg is urging U.S. defense firms to submit within 21 days plans to accelerate weapons production and delivery, citing depleted munitions from the Iran war. It cites heavy missile and interceptor use and declining Patriot and THAAD inventories. Companies named include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Anduril, and Palantir, with funding tied to a stalled $1.15T defense bill.

The U.S. Department of Defense, according to The Washington Post, asked defense contractors to submit within 21 days production and delivery schedules for critical systems, citing depleted stockpiles. CSIS estimates cite heavy early use of missiles and falling Patriot and THAAD inventories. The Pentagon is working with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, including a $58.6B deal to triple PAC-3 output by 2030, pending a stalled $1.15T defense budget.