The latest “Patriot” surface-to-air missile can be launched within seconds, but its production takes more than two years, with the cost of each missile being approximately $4 million. Despite the high costs and lengthy production time, the demand for this type of missile from the United States and its allies remains high.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on June 9th, this year the U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin have agreed to more than double the annual production of the latest 'Patriot' interceptor missiles, to approximately 2,000 units. However, the weapon manufacturer expects to achieve this goal by the end of 2030.
Reports warn that if no other alternatives are found to fill the gap, this progress may be too late for protecting “certain regions at risk”. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is depleting the inventory of Patriot missiles, which has already been strained due to past military operations by the U.S. and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Additionally, orders from U.S. allies are at an all-time high.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analyzes that it would take at least three years to restore the ‘Patriot’ missile inventory to levels comparable to those before the Middle Eastern conflict. Moreover, the funds required during this period will exceed the budget allocated by the U.S. Congress for ammunition purchases.
March 10, 2026, Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, US Army base deployment of Patriot missile defense system. IC Photo
According to reports, Lockheed Martin faces many challenges in achieving its goal of restoring inventory levels. These challenges range from bottlenecks in component supply to shortages in the local labor market. A company spokesperson stated that the company is working with government agencies and suppliers to 'eliminate these bottlenecks and shorten delivery times while ensuring strict performance and safety standards.'
However, the reality is that advanced missile systems like PAC-3 have a manufacturing cycle of several years. Increasing the production speed often further prolongs this process.
Suppliers need time to expand their factories. For example, the expansion project of Boeing’s missile parts factory took more than two years just for construction and equipment installation. Another defense contractor, L3Harris, plans to expand its rocket engine factory near Lockheed Martin’s assembly plant, but it is expected to take another year before the expansion can be fully operational.
An increase in orders means the need to hire more staff. According to Lockheed Martin, the process of recruiting and training employees for key production positions takes about six months. For positions that require federal security approval, candidates must also undergo background checks.
The contracts awarded by the Pentagon often serve as a “starter gun” for Lockheed Martin to solicit proposals from component manufacturers such as Boeing and L3Harris. Subsequently, these companies still need to inquire about prices and estimate production capabilities from their respective suppliers.
When each supplier begins manufacturing the parts they are responsible for, if the company's inventory lacks the necessary raw materials, then production must be suspended until the materials arrive.
Before the final assembly, the main subcontractors will manufacture various components of the “Patriot” missile. Boeing is responsible for assembling the gimbals, circuit boards, and wiring required for the missile’s head guidance system; L3Harris is in charge of providing propellant for the rocket engines, as well as the propellers and casings.
Once the main components arrive at Lockheed Martin’s factory in Camden, Arkansas, workers can begin assembling the entire missile. With all components in place, the assembly process will take at most six weeks. Inspectors can check the missiles during the assembly process.
After final inspection, it will take some time to deliver the missiles to air defense units around the world. Approximately half of the missiles are delivered to foreign buyers, while the rest are deployed by the U.S. Army.
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that Lockheed Martin has more than 400 suppliers who provide components for its missiles. According to statistics from the defense software company Govini, over 80% of these secondary suppliers also supply components for other missile projects. This means that increasing the production of one type of missile often leads to interference in the supply chain of another popular weapon.
Some circuit components inside the interceptor missile have been considered commercially obsolete, forcing the United States to rely on foreign suppliers for expensive equipment. The “seeker head” at the top of the missile—the critical component that enables the interceptor missile to lock onto incoming missiles and aircraft—is produced only by a factory owned by Boeing.
Boe's spokesperson stated that the company has accelerated the production of guidance pods by adding robotic equipment and seeking new suppliers for components such as circuit boards. L3Harris's spokesperson responded that the company plans to increase the production capacity of rocket engines by including more manufacturers in its supply chain.
In the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, the United States has already consumed a large amount of expensive weapons, and the "alarm" that its ammunition stock is declining has been sounded for a long time. Previously, both the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have reported this situation, even expressing their concern.
Reports indicate that the Pentagon is accelerating the procurement of more ammunition and urging defense companies to increase production. According to U.S. officials and people with knowledge of the matter, the Pentagon is also transferring interceptor missiles originally intended for European countries to American stockpiles. The White House is strongly advocating for large-scale investments in defense industry infrastructure to replenish the U.S. military arsenal, and has requested the Congress to approve $350 billion for critical ammunition in the 2027 fiscal year budget.
