1990's Depot History

Letterkenny’s future was reshaped in the 1990s by the Tactical Missile consolidation and the Department of Defense downsizing, reorganization and realignments. In 1990, Letterkenny was selected as the single processing and storage location for all weapons captured during the 1990 invasion of Panama, Operation Just Cause.



The Depot was chosen in 1992 to be the center of all Tactical Missile Systems in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. It assumed responsibility to support components from 21 new missile systems over the next few years. After the maintenance of missile systems from all Services were consolidated and transferred to LEAD, the Depot aggressively completed 22 missile systems. Gaining the workload and completing it both effectively and efficiently for this specific mission set Letterkenny apart as the well renowned depot for air defense and missile maintenance.



In 1994 Letterkenny joined United Defense, Limited Partnership to produce the Paladin. It completed 950 Paladins and ended in 1999.



Letterkenny completed its first overhaul of a PATRIOT system and was the only DoD installation overhauling and maintaining PATRIOT ground support equipment.



At the end of the Cold War, the government began closing and realigning bases. The Base Realignment & Closure (BRAC) 1993 sent LEAD’s artillery mission to Anniston Army Depot, Alabama; however, the Tactile Missile Systems Mission remained.



LEAD transitioned from U.S. Army Industrial Operations Command (IOC) to U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command on October 1, 1999.