By Marina Malenic
Four companies recently submitted bids for the Missile Defense Agency‘s next-generation Aegis ballistic missile interceptor, currently planned for fielding in 2020.
Aegis provides early intercept capability against some short-range ballistic missiles, all medium-range ballistic missiles and non-advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Raytheon [RTN] spokesman John Patterson said his company has entered the contest for the next generation Aegis missile’s concept definition and program- planning phase, set to get underway in 2011.
“We have submitted our bid,” he said on Nov. 12.
Boeing [BA] also submitted a proposal. The company has established a program office in Huntsville, Ala., and is ready to begin developing the capability, according to a Nov. 12 press statement.
“We are proud to submit our bid for this important project, which represents the future of regional missile defense,” said Greg Hyslop, vice president for the company’s strategic missile business.
Northrop Grumman [NOC] is highlighting its experience on early intercept of ballistic missile threats. The company announced that it submitted a proposal on Nov. 12.
“We…bring to bear our corporate expertise and capability in Aegis shipbuilding and naval systems to ensure a smooth land-to-sea transition,” said Duke Dufresne, vice president of the company’s strike and surveillance systems division.
Lockheed Martin [LMT] submitted its proposal to MDA, the company said in a Nov. 12 statement.
“Our offer draws upon capabilities across our corporation to define a concept and program plan that provides a best-value solution for this critical addition to our nation’s overall missile defense capabilities,” said Doug Graham, vice president of advanced programs within Lockheed’s space division.
The Missile Defense Agency has announced that the 32-month concept definition and program-planning phase will begin in 2011. This phase will focus on defining design objectives, conducting trade studies to establish a technical baseline, reducing technology risk and developing an executable program plan. A competitive product development phase will follow.
The new system will be designed for integration into the Aegis Weapon System, with the Aegis BMD 5.1 and the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, both ashore and at sea.
Meanwhile, the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $97 million contract for the production of the legacy Aegis Weapon System for the DDG-113 destroyer, plus advanced procurement funding for two additional systems for DDGs-114 and -115.
“We are in a dynamic security and acquisition environment that focuses on affordability and capability like never before,” said Capt. Jon Hill, the Major Program Manager, Integrated Combat Systems at Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems. “The Aegis system has transformed to meet changing customer missions and needs at a cost- effective price for more than 40 years.”
The contract includes four Aegis multi-mission signal processors–three for the destroyers and an additional unit for the Navy’s Surface Combat System Center on Wallops Island, Va. The contract also contains an option for an Aegis Ashore system, which will adapt the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense technology to a land-based system to protect U.S. and allied troops in Europe against short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats.
International customers for the program include Australia, Japan, Norway, Spain and South Korea.