Lockheed Martin celebrated completion and delivery of its 50th destroyer-bound Aegis Weapon System today with a "pull-the-plug" ceremony at the company's Moorestown facility.

The ceremony marks the completion of testing and signifies that the system is ready for shipboard installation. The system, to be packed and loaded in 23 tractor trailers, will be delivered for installation in the destroyer Kidd (DDG 100).

"We at the Navy truly appreciate the consistent quality you put forth on a daily basis," said Fernando Omega, PEO IWS Project Lead for Aegis Weapon System production. "Pulling Plug is the culmination of a team effort extending throughout the entire production process. It is a reflection of the overall program culture from Manufacturing through System Acceptance."

Today's delivery, on-budget and on-schedule, is the tenth Aegis Weapon System to incorporate an entirely commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) advanced processing architecture, providing the foundation for follow-on advanced applications such as Aegis Open Architecture, the CG(X) cruiser and the Littoral Combat Ship.

"Spiraled, disciplined upgrades are a hallmark of Aegis," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Maritime Systems & Sensors Surface Systems line of business. "That same approach is the backbone of our transformation to open architecture. Since the inception of Aegis, we have continued to redefine what is possible which is why Aegis remains the world's premier naval weapon system."

The Aegis Weapon System includes the SPY-1 radar, the Navy's most advanced computer-controlled radar system. When paired with the MK41 Vertical Launching System and the AN/SQQ-89 underwater combat system, the Aegis Combat System is capable of delivering ordnance in support of numerous missions and threat environments in naval warfare. The system is currently deployed on 68 U.S. Navy Aegis-equipped ships on station around the globe, and 21 more ships are planned. Aegis is the primary naval combat weapon system for Japan, and is part of two European ship construction programs - the Spanish F-100 and the Norwegian New Frigate. Additionally, the Republic of Korea is building three Aegis-equipped destroyers.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin