Lockheed Martin, a leading U.S. defense contractor, is actively pursuing European customers for its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, marking a significant expansion of its international presence. Michael Williamson, President of Lockheed Martin International, confirmed to Handelsblatt that the company is engaged in discussions with potential buyers for the system, valued at over one billion euros.
The move comes as U.S. defense companies are accelerating their international expansion strategies due to sharply increased defense investments across Europe. Williamson stated that the company anticipates the greatest growth potential outside the United States in the coming five years, particularly within the European market. The possibility of THAAD being integrated into the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) is being explored, potentially offering an alternative to the Israeli Arrow 3 system currently selected by Germany.
Beyond THAAD, Lockheed Martin is also positioned to benefit from Germany’s planned acquisition of deep-strike drones by 2029, intended to operate in conjunction with F-35 fighter jets. Williamson indicated that integrating a proprietary drone with the F-35 would be technologically straightforward, offering advantages in terms of cost and development time compared to utilizing drones from other manufacturers.
Lockheed Martin recently unveiled its drone prototype, designated “Vectis” which is designed to align with the specifications outlined in the German Federal Armed Forces’ procurement process. Alongside Lockheed Martin, the competition includes German defense start-up Helsing, Airbus and Rheinmetall, all vying for the contract.
