Defence Minister Robert Hill today announced that ASC Shipbuilder Pty Ltd will join the Royal Australian Navy's Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program as the in-country shipbuilder. Lockheed Martin , which was selected to provide the Aegis Weapon System and serve as the AWD Combat System Engineering Agent in August 2004, welcomed the opportunity to work with ASC.

"We welcome and look forward to working with ASC on the AWD program," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors' Surface Systems line of business. "ASC is joining an elite group of shipbuilders worldwide that have successfully built and delivered Aegis- equipped ships to allied navies. By partnering with Australian industry, we believe that Aegis-equipped Air Warfare Destroyers will contribute significantly to increased interoperability among Australia, the United States, and allied navies throughout the world."

Mick Aylward, AWD program manager at Lockheed Martin Australia, added that ASC is a welcome addition to the AWD team.

"We look forward to a close relationship with ASC," said Aylward. "One of the hallmarks to every successful Aegis program has been the partnership between the shipbuilder and the Combat System Engineering Agent to reduce programmatic risk and cost for our customers."

The Aegis Weapon System includes the SPY-1D(V) radar, the world'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 has been deployed on more than 75 ships around the world, with 30 more ships planned. In addition to the U.S. and Australia, Aegis is the weapon system of choice for Japan, Korea, Norway and Spain.

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

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin