The American company Lockheed Martin has announced that it cannot provide strict guarantees to United States allies regarding the delivery times of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, despite plans to triple production capacity. The announcement comes against the backdrop of global logistical pressures exacerbated by the conflict in Iran.
Brian Dunn, Vice President for Strategy and Development within the missile division of Lockheed Martin, stated at the ILA Berlin Air Show that the prioritization of deliveries is managed directly by the Pentagon, not by the arms manufacturer.
The message directly targets partner states such as Germany, Japan, Poland, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which are equipped with Patriot systems and are facing uncertainties regarding resupply.
“There are many statements from the Pentagon regarding the reorganization of priority lists and the order in which missiles will be distributed. We cannot communicate to anyone the position they occupy in this ranking, as we do not control this process”, Dunn explained.
Paula Hartley, another high-ranking manager within the company, acknowledged the existence of a growing skepticism among foreign governments, caused by delays and the shortage of military products on the relevant market.
In April of this year, Lockheed Martin signed a $4.7 billion agreement with the Pentagon to increase the production of PAC-3 MSE missiles from 650 units per year to 2,000 units by 2033. However, officials in Washington have already warned European allies, including the United Kingdom and the Baltic states, about possible prolonged delays, the current priority being the replenishment of the US strategic stocks.
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