Lockheed Martin achieved key milestones on several critical missile defense programs during 2005, and was the only company to lead the development of new technology for boost-, mid-course- and terminal-phase systems.

"Our friends and allies rely on us to provide products and innovative solutions that enable them to find and engage missile threats with speed, precision and confidence," said David Kier, Lockheed Martin vice president and managing director of missile defense. "Ultimately, these products allow us not only to protect the brave men and women of the armed forces, but also civilian populations and high-value assets throughout the world."

Lockheed Martin is the leader of the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) program team, the first ever integrated battle management system for global missile defense. It also serves as the system integrator on other missile defense programs such as THAAD(TM), MEADS and the Aegis Combat System. Lockheed Martin systems provide forces with a layered defense capability against ballistic missile threats, contributing to nearly every U.S. air-, land-, sea-, and space-based missile defense initiative.

Lockheed Martin's missile defense milestones in 2005 included:

* In July, Lockheed Martin outlined several asymmetric missile threats to the United States, and discussed solutions achievable by networking existing systems. In late December action on the Fiscal Year 2006 defense budget, House and Senate appropriators called upon MDA, the Defense Intelligence Agency and U.S. Northern Command to find solutions to threats facing the homeland.

* The House and Senate passed a bill that includes $27 million to pay for research, development and fielding of Lockheed Martin's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Signal Processor (BSP), an integral component of the United State's Ballistic Missile Defense System.

* MDA awarded Lockheed Martin a $149.2 million contract to build and fly a prototype High Altitude Airship (HAA(TM)). The HAA(TM) is a near-space, lighter-than-air, unmanned, solar-powered vehicle that will allow the customer to conduct a multitude of missions such as persistent surveillance because of its ability to carry mission re-configurable payloads.

* Successful resumption of developmental testing of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD(TM)) missile. The successful test evaluated the THAAD(TM) missile during fly-out, as well as demonstrated and collected data on missile control. No target was involved in the test. Preliminary data indicate all test objectives were achieved.

* The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System with its U.S. Navy Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) successfully intercepted a separating ballistic missile target outside the earth's atmosphere. Highlighting the system's maturity and expanding capability, the test was the sixth in which the Aegis system successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a ballistic missile target, and the first in which the system intercepted a separating ballistic missile target.

* Lockheed Martin's Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3(TM)) Missile system completed one successful flight test in 2005 and has been used successfully by our warfighters in theater, demonstrating that the hit-to-kill technology invented by Lockheed Martin is now combat-proven.

* The Airborne Laser's (ABL) Beam Control Fire Control system, developed by Lockheed Martin, a partner in the Boeing ABL team, completed initial flight testing. The testing phase verified the Beam Control Fire Control system's target tracking capability and its ability to align the high-energy laser's full optical path in the dynamic environment of flight.

* Paving the way for the next generation of missile defense, Germany approved entry into the Design and Development phase for the tri-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). Lockheed Martin leads the U.S. effort and is also system integrator. The transatlantic partnership will develop a mobile air and missile defense system to protect German, Italian, U.S., NATO and coalition troops from all air threats.

* The Lockheed Martin Targets and Countermeasures team provided the target missile for the MDA's successful Cobra Dane radar tracking exercise and the target missile system for MDA's successful test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Weapon System.

* Lockheed Martin was awarded by the MDA a nearly $308 million contract to extend its work for the development, integration, and installation of the C2BMC (Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications) capability for the Ballistic Missile Defense System. As leaders of the Missile Defense National Team for C2BMC, Lockheed Martin is delivering the future architecture for missile defense, integrating capabilities for missile warning, tracking, and intercept into a seamless, global enterprise.

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 missile design and production, infrared seekers, command and control, battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as radar and signal processing. The company makes significant contributions to all major U.S. missile defense systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 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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http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ , keyword: Missile Defense

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin