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DALLAS, March 31 (UPI) -- Lockheed histrion has received a $789.9 meg creation lessen by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Weapon System.

Lockheed said the lessen includes $694.9 meg for the creation of 48 THAAD interceptors, six THAAD launchers, four blast curb units and added hold equipment.

An choice for added launchers valued in the amount of $94.8 meg was also awarded.

The THAAD components will be employed by THAAD batteries 3 and 4 for the U.S. Army, with deliveries complete in 2013.

"We hit enthusiastic certainty in the creation plans ingrained to have the THAAD instrument grouping to the warfighter as soon as possible," said blackamoor McGrath, evilness president and information manager for THAAD at Lockheed Martin. "Lockheed histrion relic convergent on ensuring THAAD is reliable, inexpensive and effective."

THAAD interceptors are produced at Lockheed Martin's Pike County Facility in Troy, Ala. The launchers and blast curb units are produced at the company's Camden, Ark., facility. A lessen for the delivery of the prototypal two U.S. Army batteries was awarded to Lockheed histrion in late 2006.

Since 2005, the THAAD utilization information has complete 11 flight tests, with heptad intercepts in heptad attempts. THAAD is the exclusive missile defense grouping with the effective flexibility to intercept in both the endo- and exo-atmospheres to provide varied aptitude to the warfighter.

Two THAAD batteries hit been reactive at Fort Bliss, Texas. The prototypal THAAD shelling was reactive in May 2008. In Oct 2009, the U.S. Army reactive the ordinal THAAD battery.

THAAD is a key element of the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System.