Defense firm Lockheed Martin this week announced a record-setting deal to provide nearly 2,000 Patriot air and missile defense interceptors and associated hardware to the Army.

The $9.8 billion contract, which Lockheed Martin said is the largest in the history of its Missiles and Fire Control division, comes at a moment when the Pentagon is pouring significant resources into air and missile defense systems, both to protect the U.S. homeland and to guard American troops stationed abroad.

The size and length of the deal — 1,970 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors and a contract that runs through the end of fiscal year 2026 — also underscores the military’s push to stockpile key military assets, including missile defense equipment.

Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, of the Army’s Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, said such contracts “are beneficial because they enable the Army to procure a larger quantity of missiles for more rapid delivery, thus filling our inventory faster.”

In its own statement, Lockheed Martin said the system is a necessity for modern-day military forces.

“PAC-3 MSE’s recent combat performance solidified it as a must-have capability for America and its allies around the world,” Jason Reynolds, vice president and general manager of the company’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense division, said in a statement. “With this contract, we’ll be delivering record numbers of PAC-3 MSE for years to come, ensuring our customers have the advanced missile defense solutions they need to defend what matters most.” 

Lockheed Martin is delivering 600 interceptors this year, more than ever before, the company said.

The U.S. and at least 16 other nations — including Ukraine — use the Patriot missile defense system.

It remains to be seen how exactly Patriot batteries will be integrated into the Trump administration’s proposed Golden Dome missile shield, designed to protect the entire U.S. from advanced missile threats from adversaries such as China and Russia.

• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.