Lockheed Martin to provide systems integration for U.S. missile boosters to be used for missile defense
WASHINGTON – U.S. military missiles experts are looking to Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide systems integration and long-lead items for U.S. missile production for ballistic missiles and missile-defense applications.
Officials of the U.S. Strategic Systems Programs in Washington announced a $1.12 billion order to the Lockheed Martin Space segment in Littleton, Colo., on Friday to provide program management, engineering development, systems integration, long lead material, and special tooling and equipment in support of missile production.
Long-lead items either are difficult and time-consuming to obtain, and are funded early in the design process to keep overall production on schedule. The order has options that could increase its value to $2.2 billion.
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Among the mission programs that Lockheed Martin supports are the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), which protects the homeland with a modern weapon system against increasing and evolving ballistic missile threats.
NGI is a first-line-of defense interceptor development within the Missile Defense Agency’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense system. A digital twin of each interceptor provides data unique to each round to model performance and assess readiness.
Lockheed Martin also produces the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to shoot down short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase. The THAAD interceptor carries no warhead, instead relying on its kinetic energy of impact to destroy the incoming missile.
Lockheed Martin also designs the UGM-133A Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which is deployed aboard American and British ballistic missile submarines.
On this order Lockheed Martin will do the work in Denver; Sunnyvale, Calif.; Magna, Utah; Simsbury, Conn.; Huntsville, Ala.; Pittsfield, Mass.; East Aurora, N.Y.; Michoud, La.; Moorestown, N.J.; and locations, and should be finished by September 2027.
For more information contact Lockheed Martin Space online at www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/space.html, or U.S. Strategic Systems Programs at www.ssp.navy.mil.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
