Aegis Weapon System Guides Missile to Target Intercepttitle
Sixth Successful Intercept for Aegis BMD Team
KAUAI, Hawaii, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Aegis Ballistic
Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System with its Standard Missile (SM)-3
successfully intercepted a separating ballistic missile target outside the
earths atmosphere during its midcourse phase of flight today. Both the Aegis
Weapon System aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) and
range sensors confirmed a direct hit of the missile target over the Pacific
Ocean. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) develops the Aegis BMD Weapon System and
serves as the Combat System Engineering Agent for Aegis BMD.
USS Lake Erie, outfitted with the emergency engagement and Long Range
Surveillance and Track (LRS&T) capability, acquired the target autonomously
and provided guidance commands to the SM-3 to intercept the target. In
addition to USS Lake Erie, the guided missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70)
participated in todays test. USS Hopper was deployed with tactical LRS&T
capability. USS Hoppers Aegis BMD Weapon System detected and tracked the
ballistic missile target, and provided fire control information to other
elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).
This test, Flight Test Mission 04-2, marks the sixth time the Lockheed
Martin Aegis BMD Weapon System successfully guided its SM-3 to a ballistic
missile target intercept and the first time that the system intercepted a
separating ballistic missile. The test was sponsored by the Missile Defense
Agency (MDA).
"Aegis BMD is at sea today protecting the United States and its allies.
This Flight Test Mission demonstrates yet again both the capabilities that are
now in the hands of our U.S. Navy Sailors and the enduring commitment this
team has to Aegis engineering excellence," said Orlando Carvalho, vice
president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors
business unit in Moorestown.
The MDA and the U.S. Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the
BMDS. Ultimately 15 Aegis destroyers and three Aegis cruisers will be
outfitted with the capability to conduct LRS&T and engagement of short- and
medium-range ballistic missile threats using the Aegis BMD Weapon System and
its SM-3. To date, 10 Aegis destroyers have been upgraded with the LRS&T
capability and two Aegis cruisers have been outfitted with the emergency
engagement and LRS&T capability.
The Aegis Weapon System is the worlds premier naval surface defense
system and is the foundation for Aegis BMD, the primary component of the sea-
based element of the United States BMDS. The Aegis BMD Weapon System and its
BMD Weapon System variant seamlessly integrate the SPY-1 radar, the MK 41
Vertical Launching System and the SM-3 missile the weapon systems command and
control system. The Aegis BMD Weapon System also integrates with the BMDS,
receiving cues from and providing cueing information to other BMDS elements.
The Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on more than 75 ships around
the globe with 30 more ships planned. In addition to the U.S., Aegis is the
maritime weapon system of choice for Japan, South Korea, Norway and Spain.
Recently, Australia selected Aegis for its new Air Warfare Destroyer program.
Japan will begin installation of Aegis BMD in one of its Kongo class Aegis
destroyers in 2007.
Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the
development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the
first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system, PAC-3. It also has
considerable experience in interceptor systems, kill vehicles, battle
management command, control and communications, precision pointing and
tracking optics, as well as radar and other sensors that enable signal
processing and data fusion. The company makes significant contributions to
nearly all major U.S. Missile Defense Systems and participates in several
global missile defense partnerships. Lockheed Martin Corporation is
headquartered in Bethesda, MD.
For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com
