Lockheed Strikes Deal to Triple Output of Patriot Missiles (1)

Lockheed Martin Corp. struck a tentative deal with the Pentagon that’s meant to triple production of its Patriot air-defense missile, part of a broader US push to speed up weapons output and meet global demand for a highly sought-after weapons system.

The framework agreement clears the way for negotiations over a seven-year contract to increase production of the most advanced Patriot missile variant — the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, or PAC-3 MSE — from about 600 missiles a year to 2,000, according to a Pentagon statement.

The statement didn’t give a price tag for the potential deal but ...