The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System successfully detected and tracked an unarmed U.S. Air Force Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Aegis detected the missile when it rose above the horizon and immediately began BMD tracking operations. Lockheed Martin develops the Aegis BMD Weapon System for the U.S. Navy and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and also serves as the Combat System Engineering Agent.

Sailors from USS Russell (DDG 59) also used the Aegis BMD Weapon System to successfully transmit Minuteman III trajectory data via satellite through the Ballistic Missile Defense Communications System to the Ballistic Missile Defense command and control center at the Joint National Integration Center in Colorado Springs, CO.

"This was another extraordinary achievement for the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy," said Fred Moosally, president of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors. "Today's successful exercise demonstrates yet again the importance of the Aegis BMD Weapon System to the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System."

The MDA and the U.S. Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Ultimately 15 Aegis destroyers and three Aegis cruisers will be outfitted with the capability to conduct Long Range Surveillance and Tracking (LRS&T) and engagement of short and medium range ballistic missile threats using the Aegis BMD Weapon System and its Standard Missile-3 (SM-3). To date, eight Aegis destroyers have been upgraded with the LRS&T capability and two Aegis cruisers have been outfitted with the emergency engagement and LRS&T capability.

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval surface defense system and is the foundation for Aegis BMD, the primary component of the sea- based element of the United States' BMDS. The Aegis BMD Weapon System seamlessly integrates the SPY-1 radar, the MK 41 Vertical Launching System and the SM-3 missile with its own command and control system. It is capable of simultaneously defending against multiple advanced air, surface, subsurface and ballistic missile threats. The Aegis BMD Weapon System also integrates with the BMDS, providing cueing information to other BMDS elements.

Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system. It also has considerable experience in interceptor systems, kill vehicles, battle management command, control and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as radar and other sensors that enable signal processing and data fusion. The company makes significant contributions to all major U.S. Missile Defense Systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships. Lockheed Martin Corporation is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin