Lockheed Martin has completed equipment testing of the seventh generation of its Aegis Weapon System -- another significant milestone for the integrated weapon system that provides critical defensive and offensive capabilities to destroyers, cruisers and frigates for navies around the world.

The latest system upgrade, called Baseline 7.1, contains a new radar, AN/SPY-1D(V), as well as the first complete commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) Aegis computing architecture. These new capabilities will be introduced to the U.S. Navy's surface fleet in November when the system is installed on the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, Pinckney (DDG 91).

"The entire surface Navy will benefit from this tremendous increase in capability," said Fred Moosally, president of Lockheed Martin's Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems (NE&SS) in Moorestown, NJ, which is the Aegis Combat Systems Engineering Agent and the developer of the Aegis Weapon System. "This is a significant stride forward, providing advanced capabilities for the U.S. Navy fleet using a COTS environment. We are very proud to be delivering the most capable Aegis Weapon System ever built," Moosally continued.

The transition to COTS computing equipment increases the systems' capability and is a major step toward an open architecture, which eases introduction of features and upgrades. The new SPY-1D(V) radar adds the capability to operate more effectively in littoral environments and has enhanced electronic countermeasures against advanced threats. In all, 18 Arleigh Burke destroyers will be outfitted with the new SPY-1D(V) radar system.

The SPY-1 radar is the heart of the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis Weapon System. It automatically detects and tracks hundreds of targets from the wave tops to the exoatmosphere. SPY-1, available worldwide in various configurations, provides the U.S. and allied nations with the world's most advanced naval, surveillance, anti-air warfare and missile defense capabilities. Through enhancements and technology upgrades, the radar has continually provided capability against current and emerging threats.

Aegis Baseline 7.1 production equipment has undergone acceptance testing and integration during the past several months to verify system performance prior to being installed on Pinckney. During the next few weeks, employees at Lockheed Martin will dismantle and pack the suite of equipment and load it onto 21 tractor-trailers for delivery to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Miss., where it will be integrated into the ship. Sea trials for Pinckney are slated to begin in August 2003.

Lockheed Martin 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 a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation headquartered in Bethesda, MD. The corporation's principal business areas are aeronautics, space, systems integration and technology services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems