Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training has won a USD 93 million worth modification to previously awarded contract to exercise options for production of Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS) in Poland and to provide multi-year procurement funding for Aegis Weapon System (AWS) MK 7 equipment sets.
The option for Aegis Ashore assembly is envisaged under the $574 million contract the Navy awarded previously to Lockheed Martin, which includes the production of seven destroyers (DDGs 117-123) the goal being contribution to the United States Navy and Missile Defense Agency’s layered defense system.
Aegis Ashore is the land-based component of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System. Aegis Ashore adapts the present and future Aegis BMD capabilities to address the evolving ballistic missile security environment. Aegis BMD and Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) upgrades are being phased into deployed Aegis BMD ships and land-based facilities during this decade. Each Aegis BMD upgrade provides increased capability for countering ballistic missile threats. The land-based system is designed to be removable to support worldwide deployment. In addition to Aegis BMD at sea, Aegis Ashore is part of Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) Phases II and III.
In 2018, Aegis Ashore will be installed in Poland, as part of the PAA Phase III. This deployed capability will use Aegis BMD 5.1 and SM-3 Block IB and IIA to support defense of Northern Europe.
Majority of the work stipulated by the contract will be performed in Moorestown, N.J. (85.5 percent) and is expected to be completed by September 2021.
[mappress] Press Release, March 26, 2014, Image: Lockheed Martin