Lockheed Martin strengthens Europe in the face of an imminent large-scale war

Lockheed Martin, considered one of the largest military contractors in the world, is experiencing strong global demand for its PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles, used in the Patriot air defense system.

The growing demand has forced the company to prioritize an accelerated expansion of its production capacity. The goal is to reach an annual production of 750 units by 2027, surpassing the original government contract for 650 missiles.

According to statements from Jason Reynolds, vice president of the PAC-3 MSE and THAAD programs, Lockheed Martin produced 450 missiles in 2023, and expects to reach 600 in 2025 to subsequently increase and reach the annual figure of 750 in 2027.

The reason for this global demand for defensive equipment is the danger posed by ballistic missiles manufactured on a large scale by Iran and Russia, which were used in the 12-day war and in the current conflict in Ukraine.

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Lockheed Martin seeks international support

To achieve this goal, the company is negotiating with various European partners to establish an international supply chain. The talks include Diehl Defence in Germany, for the supply of power modules, and the Spanish company Sener, which could be responsible for the actuators.

In Poland, the participation of Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 1 (WZL-1) in Łódź is being considered, which since April 2025 has produced launch tubes for the MSE missiles as part of a Patriot systems localization contract signed in 2018 valued at USD 4.75 billion.

A possible partner in Denmark was also mentioned, although its identity was not disclosed. There is already a previous collaboration with the Danish company Weibel, manufacturer of radars for the F-35 program, making it a viable candidate.

The intended number of missiles

The expansion from 650 to 750 missiles annually, which represents only eight additional missiles per month, requires close coordination among multiple countries and dozens of suppliers. Reynolds emphasized that this task involves precise synchronization among all actors, describing it as "running at the same pace."

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin is also significantly increasing the production of other tactical missiles such as ATACMS, PrSM, GMLRS, and Javelin, as well as the HIMARS launcher system, whose annual production has doubled from 48 to 96 units, while the production of guided rockets has reached 14,000 units per year.

These missile systems were and continue to be used massively in the war in Ukraine against Russia, especially for the offensive operations of Kiev's forces.