U.S. Senator Jon Corzine of New Jersey today marked the opening of the Theater Network Integration Center (TNIC) at Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems (NE&SS)-Surface Systems. The TNIC is the first development site of its kind in the world because it will integrate and test two major U.S. Navy combat systems (Cooperative Engagement Capability and Aegis) in a theater context prior to follow-on land based and at-sea testing.

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The TNIC leverages substantial Navy investment in Aegis development efforts and equipment. The center will be used to integrate and test the U.S. Navy's CEC Program Baseline 2.2, as well as new tactical information networking technologies that support coalition network centric engagement and battle management systems. The TNIC provides the Navy with an unprecedented opportunity to simultaneously test multiple Aegis implementations. It allows Lockheed Martin's existing Aegis test facilities to link into the TNIC, creating an accurate system environment like that onboard an actual Aegis / CEC ship.

The center will improve interoperability and development efficiencies, and is a significant improvement to the current development process. The TNIC facility confirms Lockheed Martin's commitment to quality and supports its Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Level 4 facility rating.

"Being the design agent for CEC Baseline 2.2 is an exciting opportunity for this business," said Fred Moosally, president, NE&SS-Surface Systems. "We take our CEC design agent responsibilities seriously and our investments emphasize our commitment to the networked fighting force of the future." He added, "Developing a dedicated center in Moorestown for network centric warfare systems was the natural progression for our business. The TNIC is another example of Lockheed Martin's innovation in providing the U.S. Navy the best value and most advanced capabilities."

"The TNIC, being the first of its kind, is demonstrative of Lockheed Martin's innovation and ability to provide the Navy with an incredible capability to develop systems that will serve and protect those who have chosen to serve and protect this nation," said Senator Jon Corzine. "With Aegis as the backbone to CEC, this facility here in New Jersey, the home of Aegis, just makes sense."

The CEC system is intended to provide the capability for a warship to cooperatively engage targets by using data from other CEC-equipped ships, aircraft and land-based sensors, even in a jamming environment. Working in conjunction with individual ship, aircraft and shore systems, CEC also provides a common, consistent and highly accurate tactical picture, allowing battle group defenses to act as one system.

Lockheed Martin is under contract with the U.S. Navy to develop CEC Baseline 2.2. This baseline will enable CEC to incorporate a Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (TBMD) capability. CEC Baseline 2.2 is designed specifically to work with the Aegis Combat System, which is deployed in the Navy's premier surface combatant fleet and for which Lockheed Martin NE&SS-Surface Systems is the combat system engineering agent.

NE&SS-Surface Systems is one of five major lines of business comprising the Lockheed Martin NE&SS business segment. NE&SS provides surface ship and submarine weapon systems, antisubmarine warfare and ocean surveillance systems, missile launching systems, radar and sensor systems, ship systems integration services and other advanced systems and services to customers worldwide. NE&SS is an operating segment of the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration business area.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Systems Integration is one of four principal business areas within the Lockheed Martin Corporation . The other business areas are aeronautics, space and technology services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Corporation