The U.S. Navy has given its final approval for Lockheed Martin to proceed with the integration and shipboard installation of the world's first, fully-open architecture Aegis weapon system for a major surface warship. Aegis Open Architecture will be installed in the cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) during its Depot Modernization Period (DMP), scheduled to commence in February 2008.

Aegis Open Architecture will allow the Navy to stay on technology's leading edge through its innovative use of commonly-available commercial off- the-shelf computing hardware and open system software, enabling the service to more easily implement technology refreshes and capability upgrades to the weapon system as they are developed in the future.

Bunker Hill is the first of 22 cruisers scheduled for modernization with Aegis Open Architecture over the next 10 years. In 2012, the Navy will begin a similar modernization program for the 62-ship class of Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke destroyers.

The road to Aegis Open Architecture included extensive systems engineering to reconfigure Aegis with commercial off-the-shelf computing hardware and open system software. The end result is a weapon system that can absorb frequent technology refreshes and can readily accept upgrades in capabilities, whether they be accomplished through new development or through the integration of separately developed third party products.

"Aegis Open Architecture will continue to keep a force of 84 U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers -- and dozens of allied Aegis-equipped ships -- relevant and at the forefront of technology for the extent of their ship life," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Surface-Sea Based Missile Defense line of business. "Providing this transformation is the result of thorough systems engineering and close collaboration with the Navy and multiple innovative business partners to replace custom designed software with open architecture software."

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval surface defense system. It seamlessly integrates the SPY-1 radar, the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, SM-2 and SM-3 missiles and the weapon system's command and control system.

The Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on 85 ships around the globe with more than 20 additional ships planned or under contract. In addition to the U.S., Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Australia, Japan, Norway, South Korea and Spain.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the 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/

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin