Lockheed Martin announced that it successfully launched a target missile for today's ATM-48 intercept test of the U.S. Army's Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) air defense system.

Under the Missile Defense Agency's Targets and Countermeasures Program in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force, a Lockheed Martin-led team launched the short-range, legacy target from Fort Wingate, N.M. L-3 Coleman Aerospace provided the Hera target vehicle.

"We have an exceptionally talented team working this mission," said John W. Holly, vice president for Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "They put the same operational know-how into launching a ballistic missile as a target as is required for a real-world defensive or offensive mission."

This marked the 33rd successful target mission Lockheed Martin has achieved out of 34 missions since 1996. Lockheed Martin's unmatched 97-percent reliability rate has included unitary and separating targets, spanning land, sea and air launches.

Lockheed Martin performs Targets and Countermeasures program management, design and systems engineering in Huntsville, Ala., Denver, Colo., and Sunnyvale, Calif., and integration in Courtland, Ala.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin