The Spanish Navy commissioned its second F100-class frigate equipped with the Lockheed Martin- developed Aegis Weapon System on Dec. 3 during a ceremony at the IZAR shipyard in Ferrol, Spain.

The ship, Almirante Juan de Borbon (F102), named after the father of King Juan Carlos, is the second of four frigates completed under the Spanish F100 program. The Almirante Juan de Borbon joins the Spanish fleet only four months after the lead ship, Alvaro de Bazan, successfully completed Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) off the coast of Virginia with the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason - the first-ever joint international CSSQT. Almirante Juan de Borbon is scheduled for similar trials in fall 2004.

"The Almirante Juan de Borbon and its sister ships will provide the Spanish Navy unprecedented capability," said Fred P. Moosally, president of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors. "Through a remarkable international partnership, the disciplined performance we are delivering to this program, as demonstrated with the Alvaro de Bazan at sea this summer, results in performance that will serve the Spanish Navy well for years to come. The contributions of our industry partners, prime contractor IZAR, INDRA, RYMSA, SAINSEL and other Spanish companies have been critical factors in the success of this program."

The Aegis system enables frigates to engage simultaneous threats from over, under and on the sea. Lockheed Martin provides the Aegis Weapon System to Spain under a Foreign Military Sales Case between the U.S. and Spanish navies. The agreement covers production, testing, installation and product life cycle support for Aegis Weapon Systems that will be deployed aboard all F100-class frigates.

The Aegis Weapon System includes the SPY-1 radar, the most advanced naval computer-controlled radar system in the world. When paired with the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, it is capable of delivering missiles for every mission and threat environment in naval warfare. The system can simultaneously track hundreds of targets while defending against multiple incoming aircraft, missiles, submarines, torpedoes and attacking ships, and automatically implement defenses to protect the fleet. Aegis is capable of countering the existing and emerging threats to a naval battle group, as well as striking inland targets.

The Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on 72 ships on station around the globe, and 26 more ships are currently planned. In addition to the U.S. Navy and Spain, Aegis programs are currently active for Japan, Norway and Korea.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors