GM Defense Delivers First Patriot Missile Parts

GM Defense delivered its first batch of housing components for Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 MSE interceptor on Aug. 28, 22 days after the firms signed a formal contract on Aug. 6. Lockheed said parts of that type can typically take months or even years to produce. Tim Cahill, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control president, said: “Our partnership with GM Defense is a concrete example of how we’re merging world-class commercial manufacturing with defense supply chain and production practices and rapidly translating that into battlefield readiness for the United States.” Stephen duMont, GM Defense president and CEO, said: “We’re proud to support production of this country’s critical defense capabilities.” Lockheed and GM announced the partnership in June after Lockheed’s January seven-year framework agreement with the U.S. government to lift annual PAC-3 MSE capacity from about 600 missiles to 2,000. Trump’s June 11 memorandum invoked Defense Production Act authorities and delegated powers to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to form voluntary agreements that supply antitrust protections. War with Iran and support for Ukraine were cited as pressures on missile stockpiles.