SPX
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $619 million contract from
the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to begin production of the Terminal
High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System. The contract
for the first two THAAD fire units includes 48 interceptors, six
launchers and two fire control and communications units. The system
is scheduled for fielding in Fiscal Year 2009.
"This is a major milestone for the THAAD program,"
said Tom McGrath, Lockheed Martin vice president and THAAD program
manager. "Lockheed Martin, our customers at MDA and the THAAD
Project Office have been working together to ensure that warfighters
receive a missile defense system they can count on to defend themselves
and the assets they are protecting. Once fielded, THAAD will network
with other systems and sensors to provide the layered missile
defense capability required for the future."
Final assembly, integration and testing of production equipment
will take place at Lockheed Martin's award-winning manufacturing
facilities in Troy, AL, and Camden, AR.
The Lockheed Martin Pike County Operations in Troy includes a
46,000-square-foot, $12 million facility constructed specifically
for THAAD interceptor integration, assembly and test operations.
The Troy facility has been honored with INDUSTRYWEEK's "America's
Best Plants" award, the Defense Investigative Service Cogswell
Award, the 2002 Alabama "Manufacturer of the Year" award
and the prestigious Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing
Award in 2002.
Lockheed Martin's Camden Operations was selected as one of INDUSTRYWEEK
magazine's "Top Ten Best Plants" for 2006. The Camden
plant was selected for this recognition from more than 200 potential
candidate facilities across North America.
THAAD is designed to defend U.S. troops, allied forces, population
centers and critical infrastructure against short- to intermediate
range ballistic missiles. THAAD comprises a fire control and communications
system, interceptors, launchers and a radar. The THAAD interceptor
uses hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets, and is the only
weapon system that engages threat ballistic missiles at both endo-
and exo-atmospheric altitudes.
A key element of the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System
(BMDS), THAAD is a Missile Defense Agency program, with the program
office located in Huntsville, AL. The agency is developing a BMDS
to defend the United States, its deployed forces, friends and
allies against ballistic missiles of all ranges and in all phases
of flight.
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