The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin $57.3 million under an existing contract for Aegis Combat System engineering, installation and integration on new U.S. Navy destroyers, as well as upgrades for Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers already in service.

As the U.S. Navy's Combat System Engineering Agent for Aegis, Lockheed Martin is responsible for the shipboard installation, integration and test of all combat system elements on all Aegis-equipped ships in the U.S. Navy, as well as those in Japan, Spain, Norway and Korea.

"The complexity of putting a front-line warship to sea relies on teamwork among the Navy, the shipbuilder and Lockheed Martin as the combat system engineering agent," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's business in Moorestown. "The Aegis reputation for working every time, all the time is built on a very deliberate process of designing, building and testing at multiple phases during the initial construction, shipboard installation and lifetime support."

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval surface weapon system. It seamlessly integrates the AN/SPY-1D(V) radar, the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System and a family of U.S. Navy missiles with its own command and control system. Aegis also is at the heart of the U.S. Navy's sea-based missile defense system, one of the first operationally deployed components of the nation's layered network of defenses against cruise and ballistic missile attack.

Currently, Aegis Weapon Systems are on 76 cruisers, destroyers and frigates in service around the world. Plans are currently underway to install the system on more than 25 additional U.S. and international destroyers and frigates.

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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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin