The Norwegian frigate Roald Amundsen (F-311), equipped with a Lockheed Martin -developed SPY-1F Aegis Weapon System, was commissioned May 21 in a ceremony held at Navantia shipyard in Ferrol, Spain.

The Royal Norwegian Navy officially took delivery of the ship following completion of harbor and sea acceptance trials that included rigorous testing of the ship's anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare systems.

The Roald Amundsen's commissioning is the latest milestone for the five- ship Norwegian New Frigate program. The Fridtjof Nansen, which was commissioned in April 2006, completed its first Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) live firing in late 2006. In June 2007, the Fridtjof Nansen is expected to conduct its Combat Systems Ship Qualification Test in a first-ever triple-qualification event with the U.S. and Spanish navies on the West Coast of the United States.

"The international industrial and naval teamwork that led to the delivery of Roald Amundsen does not end at the edge of the pier, it will sail with this ship everywhere," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Surface-Sea Based Missile Defense line of business.

The 5,200-ton Roald Amundsen, with a crew of 120, was designed around Lockheed Martin's SPY-1F radar. Lockheed Martin is system integrator of the multi-mission integrated weapon system, including sensors, command and control, communications and weapons, for the Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates.

The SPY-1F Multifunction Radar provides high performance surveillance, detection and tracking. Lockheed Martin's MK-41 Vertical Launching System supports the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile on the Fridtjof Nansen class ships, but can readily accommodate Standard Missile 2 in a SPY-1F configuration.

The five ships of the Norwegian New Frigate program exemplify successful international teamwork and industry partnership that includes Navantia shipbuilding in Spain, Kongsberg Defense in Norway and over a dozen other key international suppliers.

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval surface defense system. The Aegis Weapon System includes the SPY-1 radar, the world's most advanced fielded radar system. When paired with the MK-41 Vertical Launching System, it is capable of delivering rapid reaction time and simultaneous firepower for every mission and threat environment in naval warfare.

The Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on 81 surface combatants around the globe, with more than 25 additional ships planned. In addition to the U.S. Navy and Norway, Aegis is the maritime defense system of choice for Australia, Japan, South Korea and Spain.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is a leader in research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Corporation