Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Army conducted another successful flight of a Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., this morning.

The PAC-3 Missile intercepted and destroyed an incoming tactical ballistic missile target. Simultaneous to the PAC-3 engagement, a Patriot PAC-2 missile engaged a drone target simulating an aircraft. Preliminary test data indicate all PAC-3 Missile test objectives were successfully achieved.

"This was our sixth intercept in a row for the PAC-3 Missile, and our eighth consecutive successful flight test," said Mike Trotsky, vice president - air defense technology and marketing for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas. "Today's intercept showed that the PAC-3 system can defeat ballistic missiles even in the presence of decoys. This was a spectacular success," he added.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas is the prime contractor responsible for the PAC-3 Missile segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system, which consists of the PAC-3 Missile, the missile canisters, the Fire Solution Computer and the Enhanced Launcher Electronics System.

The PAC-3 Missile has now had eight consecutive successful engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) test flights since 1997. The first two EMD missions were successfully conducted with special instrumentation packages in place of the full-up PAC-3 Missile seeker. The missions were structured to verify critical systems and missile performance prior to conducting target intercept flight tests. The first PAC-3 Missile target intercept flight against a TBM was on March 15, 1999. The second TBM intercept followed on September 16, 1999, with the third intercept of a TBM on February 5, 2000. Two successful cruise missile intercepts, on July 22 and 28, 2000, proved conclusively the PAC-3 Missile's ability to detect and destroy incoming cruise missiles.

Contracts totaling more than $200 million for PAC-3 Missile Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP), special hardware and long lead-time items have been awarded to Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas.

In addition to the eight successful PAC-3 Missile flight tests, the PAC-3's predecessor missile, the Extended-Range Interceptor, demonstrated three hits in a row during the demonstration/validation program in 1994. Two of those tests involved TBM targets and one involved an air-breathing target (simulating a cruise missile or aircraft).

The PAC-3 Missile is a high velocity, hit-to-kill missile and is the next generation Patriot missile being developed to provide increased capability against advanced theater ballistic missile, cruise missile and hostile aircraft. The PAC-3 Missile kills incoming targets by direct, body-to-body impact. The PAC-3 Missiles, when deployed in a Patriot battery, will significantly increase the Patriot system's firepower, since 16 PAC-3 Missiles load-out on a Patriot launcher, compared with four Patriot missiles.

Located in Dallas and Orlando, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures, and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems. The company is organized in seven program/mission areas: Strike Weapons, Air Defense, Anti-Armor, Naval Munitions, Fire Control and Sensors, Fire Support and Product Development.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics, and technology services.

For additional information, visit the Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas