Pentagon Awards Lockheed Martin $3 Billion Contract to Produce Sentinel A4 Air Defense and Counter-Drone Radar
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth approximately $2.999 billion for production and engineering services related to the Sentinel A4 radar system. The next-generation radar will replace the legacy Sentinel A3 (AN/MPQ-64A3) and deliver significantly enhanced capabilities against cruise missiles, drones, rotary-wing, and fixed-wing threats. Work is expected to be completed by June 29, 2031.
Highlights
- The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Lockheed Martin a $2,998,742,163 contract on June 30, 2026, for production and engineering services for the Sentinel A4 radar system.
- The Sentinel A4 will replace the legacy Sentinel A3 (AN/MPQ-64A3) and adds enhanced detection capabilities against drones (UAS), cruise missiles, rotary-wing, and fixed-wing aircraft.
- The contract uses a mixed structure — fixed-price incentive, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and no-fee cost — with completion expected by June 29, 2031.
- The award was the result of an open online solicitation that received only one bid, with Lockheed Martin as the sole respondent.
- The contract reflects the Pentagon's escalating investment in counter-drone (C-UAS) and integrated air defense capabilities amid growing global UAS threats.
Pentagon Awards Lockheed Martin Nearly $3 Billion for Sentinel A4 Radar
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract valued at $2,998,742,163 for the production and engineering support of the Sentinel A4 radar system. The contract structure includes fixed-price incentive, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and no-fee cost arrangements to cover a range of production and technical support activities.
According to the official DoD contract announcement, the award was competed via an open online solicitation, which received a single bid. Work locations and funding allocations will be determined on a per-order basis, with an expected completion date of June 29, 2031.
Sentinel A4: Next-Generation Air Defense and Counter-Drone Radar
The Sentinel A4 is designed to replace the currently fielded Sentinel A3 (AN/MPQ-64A3) air defense and counter-missile radar. According to Lockheed Martin, the Sentinel A4 represents a significant capability upgrade over existing Sentinel variants, with enhanced detection and engagement performance against the following threat categories:
- Cruise missiles
- Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
- Rotary-wing aircraft (e.g., helicopters)
- Fixed-wing aircraft
Reflecting Growing Counter-Drone Priorities
The scale of the contract underscores the U.S. military's intensifying focus on counter-UAS (C-UAS) and integrated air defense capabilities. As drone technology continues to proliferate rapidly across global conflict environments, the deployment of advanced radar systems capable of detecting small, low-flying unmanned platforms has become a strategic priority for ground-based air defense forces.
The Sentinel A4 program positions Lockheed Martin as a key supplier in meeting this demand, building on decades of experience with the Sentinel radar family.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Defense Contract Announcement (June 30, 2026)
- Lockheed Martin Sentinel A4 Product Page
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
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