The $574 million contract
includes the production of seven destroyers (DDGs 117-123) and an
option for one Aegis Ashore assembly, which together will contribute
to the United States Navy and Missile Defense Agency's layered defense
system. The systems will operate the next generation integrated air
and missile defense capability, Aegis Baseline 9, at their core.
"Four decades ago,
the Aegis program was born at our facility in Moorestown - and today
it has evolved into a national asset, both at sea and on shore,"
said Dale P. Bennett, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's
Mission Systems and Training business. "This contract represents
the partnership and innovation of our joint government/industry team
who are bringing the future of Aegis to the warfighter in an affordable
and sustainable way."
The central component of
the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis weapons system is the SPY-1 radar,
the most widely fielded naval phased array radar in the world. The
team recently completed the 400th SPY-1 antenna at its Moorestown
facility. The Aegis weapon system and SPY-1 radar are deployed on
more than 100 ships worldwide.
The additional Aegis Ashore
assembly will be built as part of the administration's European Phased
Adaptive approach and deployed to Poland, the second Host Nation participating
in the missile defense strategy. Aegis Ashore is an evolution of proven
sea-based Aegis BMD capabilities and utilizes innovative adaptations
for a land-based environment. The Aegis Ashore system to be deployed
to Romania, the first Host Nation, recently entered its operational
readiness stage in Moorestown, N.J., while the Aegis Ashore system
at the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii is preparing
for its first live test next year.
