US pushes for expanded missile production with $253.7 million deal

The US Department of Defense has awarded a $253.7 million contract to Williams International, aimed at ramping up the production of key missile systems, including those for military aid to Ukraine.

The contract, issued under the Defense Production Act (DPA), will focus on expanding the manufacturing capacity of gas turbine engines critical for various missile systems, Caliber.Az reports, citing an announcement on the Pentagon's website.

It is noted that the increased production will specifically address the need for:

• Harpoon anti-ship missiles
• AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM)
• AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM)
• Tomahawk cruise missiles
• Other precision strike weapons

The US Department of Defense highlighted that the funding is part of the broader security appropriations allocated through both the Indo-Pacific Supplemental Security Appropriations Act, 2024, and the Ukraine Supplemental Security Appropriations Act, 2024.

The Pentagon emphasized that this contract will significantly enhance the production of critical materials, vital for strengthening defense capabilities against potential adversaries. Williams International’s expanded engine production will support both precision strike weapons and unmanned systems, which are essential for modern military operations.

The Department of Defense also noted that this contract is one of five awards issued by the DPA Procurement Program (DPAP) since the start of the fiscal year 2025, totalling $290.8 million across multiple defence sectors.

"This award represents another significant step in strengthening the domestic capabilities of the defence industrial base by investing in strategic capabilities that will help ensure the US remains a leader in manufacturing technologies," added Mr Anthony Di Stasio, Director of the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate.

By Tamilla Hasanova