Lockheed Martin completed the first live shipboard testing of the new SPY-1D(V) radar system today, successfully detecting live air tracks. Successful testing of the first production SPY-1D(V) radar marks a significant milestone for the integrated weapon system that provides critical offensive and defensive capabilities to destroyers, cruisers and frigates for navies around the world.

The SPY-1D(V) radar system is part of the seventh generation of the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis Weapon System. The new SPY-1D(V) radar adds the capability to operate more effectively in littoral environments as well as a more sophisticated ability to defeat electronic countermeasures. Another integral part of this upgraded system is the ship's AN/SQQ-89 Undersea Warfare System, which also incorporates Lockheed Martin's new Remote Minehunting System, further enhancing the ship's multi-mission role by providing an organic mine reconnaissance capability to fleet battle groups and increased synergy between major warfighting components on the ship.

The latest system upgrade also contains the first complete commercial-off- the-shelf (COTS) Aegis advanced processing computing architecture. The transition to a complete COTS computing environment increases the systems' capability and is a major step toward an open architecture, which eases introduction of future computing features and upgrades.

"Deployment of a complete COTS environment will enable the Navy to quickly and cost effectively install the latest technology in Aegis, ensuring the system's vitality and responsiveness for many years to come," said Fred Moosally, president of Lockheed Martin's Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems business segment. "This is a tremendous step that allows the U.S. Navy to operate more effectively in the littoral environment of today's warfare."

These new capabilities will be introduced to the U.S. Navy's surface fleet this fall when the 41st Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, Pinckney (DDG 91), is delivered. Sea trials for Pinckney are slated to begin in August 2003. In all, 22 Aegis-equipped destroyers will be outfitted with the improved radar system.

The Aegis Weapon System, developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy, includes the SPY-1 radar, the Navy's most advanced computer-controlled radar system. When paired with the Lockheed Martin-developed MK 41 Vertical Launch System, it is capable of delivering missiles for every mission and threat environment in naval warfare. This multi-function phased array radar, available worldwide to meet the mission needs for a range of ships from corvettes to aircraft carriers, provides U.S. and allied nations with the world's most advanced naval surveillance, anti-air warfare and missile defense capabilities.

Aegis is currently installed on 64 U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers on station around the globe, and at least 25 more ships are planned. Aegis is the primary naval weapon system for Japan, it is part of two European ship construction programs -- the Spanish F-100 and the Norwegian New Frigate -- and the Republic of Korea recently selected Aegis for its newest class of destroyers.

As the leading technology solutions provider and integrator to the U.S. government, Lockheed Martin focuses on the defense, information technology and homeland security requirements of the military services and civil agencies. The corporation's advanced technology solutions draw on world-class capabilities in systems engineering and integration, complex project management, software development and information technology. These align with emerging homeland security requirements for enhanced command and control, threat information alert and exchange, border control, critical infrastructure protection and emergency management and incident response. Lockheed Martin Corporation is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin