The crew of the U.S. Navy destroyer Halsey (DDG 97) successfully completed three separate underway sea trials in a single "Super Trial" in the Gulf of Mexico. The consolidated Super Trial reflects the Navy's confidence in the Lockheed Martin developed Aegis Weapon System performance and results in considerable time saving and cost avoidance for the Navy.

During the November 30-December 2 trial, Navy and Lockheed Martin engineers assessed the performance of the Aegis Weapon System in a live, at-sea environment. The tests included gun exercises and two successful Standard Missile-2 firings. With its two successful missile firings, this latest generation of Aegis now has a total of 10 successful missile engagements recorded during sea trials in as many attempts. This testing follows a long history of successful missile and gun firings in earlier versions of the Aegis system.

"The success of this combined sea trial further confirms the unsurpassed capability of the Aegis Weapon System," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Surface Systems line of business. "Now in its seventh generation, Aegis continues to evolve to meet all threats, and provides Sailors a weapon system with a reputation for working all the time, every time."

Halsey will be commissioned next year in San Diego.

The Aegis Weapon System includes the SPY-1 radar, the Navy's most advanced computer-controlled radar system. 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 Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on 74 ships on station around the globe, with 30 more ships planned. In addition to the U.S., Aegis is the weapon system of choice for Japan, Korea, Norway and Spain. Recently, Australia selected Aegis for its new Air Warfare Destroyer program.

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.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin