Lockheed Martin [LMT] has received an $80.6 million contract from the Missile Defense Agency for modified ballistic re-entry vehicles and separation modules for missile defense tests, the company said Thursday.
Under the deal, announced Lockheed Martin will develop unarmed re-entry vehicles for use with target missiles through 2022.
“The re-entry vehicle is essentially the bullseye for an interceptor missile, and it is also one of the most complex parts of the target. In today’s environment, it’s incredibly important to test against threat-representative targets that look like enemy missiles, and we are proud to continue to provide that capability to the Missile Defense Agency,” Sarah Reeves, vice president of missile defense programs for Lockheed Martin Space, said in a statement.
The modified ballistic re-entry vehicles will utilize sensors to gather data needed to assess the accuracy and effectiveness of targets, interceptors and missile defense systems.
“Testing against a capable, threat-representative re-entry vehicle helps ensure the ballistic missile defense system is ready to detect and destroy enemy missiles,” Lockheed Martin said in a statement.
The vehicles will be developed at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Huntsville, Ala. Dynetics, Inc. will service as subcontractor for the deal providing aeroshell structures, as will Battelle to produce hit detection systems.