Lockheed Martin has secured a substantial contract amounting to up to $2.97 billion to continue its pivotal role as the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (ABMD) Combat Systems Engineering Agent. This contract represents a significant commitment to enhancing and maintaining the operational readiness of the Aegis combat suite—an advanced system that integrates sophisticated radars and digital technology to oversee both naval and shore-based weaponry, under the management of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
As part of this agreement, Lockheed Martin will focus on designing, engineering, and maintaining software that is crucial for improving all phases of the Aegis missile network’s fire control loop. This includes essential functions such as planning, detection, control, engagement, and evaluation of missile threats.
Additionally, the company will work on integrating more data into the Common Source Library, which it provides. This integration aims to broaden the ABMD’s understanding of potential threats, enhance performance at the level of individual ships, and facilitate necessary upgrades to weapon systems.
The duration of this project extends until 2035, providing ongoing support for Aegis capabilities on various platforms, including naval cruisers, guided-missile destroyers, land-based centers, and the Aegis Guam System. It will also contribute to the ongoing Glide Phase Interceptor program.
Leadership for this initiative will come from Lockheed’s Rotary and Mission Systems segment based in Moorestown, New Jersey. The Missile Defense Agency highlighted Lockheed’s selection for this contract due to its unique expertise and significant experience, particularly its access to the design and software source code for the Aegis BMD Weapon System.
In a recent demonstration of its capabilities, the Standard Missile-3 Block 1B guided missile, launched from the USS Lake Erie, successfully intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile target off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, further underscoring the effectiveness and importance of the Aegis system in contemporary defense initiatives.
