Aegis

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

The test-firing of an Iranian short-range missile last week underscores the importance of a sea-based defense system that uses crucial radar components made in southern New Jersey.

Iranian state-run TV announced the rogue nation had fired a faster version of its most advanced missile. Iran, which is in a nuclear standoff with the West, said the Sejil 2 (Lethal Stone) missile hit its intended target, without providing details.

The missile has a claimed range of 1,240 miles, which means it could strike Israel, much of Turkey, most Arab states and parts of Europe. Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the latest version of the Sejil was "impossible to destroy" due to its "very high speed."

U.S. naval forces would defend European and Israeli cities against such a high-speed threat. The Obama administration decided in September to use Aegis warships to defend the region instead of the politically unpopular idea of building defensive missile bases in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Navy destroyers and cruisers outfitted with the Aegis combat system would be used to take out short-range missiles while they were still in outer space. The Aegis system is built by Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, which employs 4,900 people in Moorestown, where it has one of the state’s largest manufacturing facilities.

Lockheed officials say their combat system has shot down 20 out of 24 missiles in test firings and one errant satellite.

"What that tells us in terms of capability is that we have a pretty stable, high performing system," said Lisa Callahan, vice president, maritime ballistic missile programs for Lockheed Martin. "That’s where the confidence comes from in the system and what Aegis ballistic missile defense is able to do, because we have that many test shots and that much success with those test shots over time."

In use since 1983, the Aegis system was originally designed for Navy warships to protect aircraft carrier battle groups from enemy planes and cruise missiles. Its additional role of providing missile defense has required more sophisticated radar. The Navy’s Spy-1 radar system, made in Moorestown, is part of a combat system big enough to fill three tractor-trailers. The radar can track multiple targets in flight and provide midcourse guidance correction for interceptor missiles, according to a Congressional Research Service Report filed in October.

The Obama administration decided the greatest threat from Iran is not a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile.

"They have seen this shift to more of a shorter- to medium-range threat from Iran," said Nick Bucci, director, Aegis ballistic missile development programs. "The administration has made a decision based on what it has seen in terms of the threat and its proliferation."

Lockheed Martin has shot down missiles using Aegis both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere. It is more difficult to take out a missile inside the atmosphere when it begins its descent.

Intercepting a missile is similar to shooting a bullet with a bullet, according to Charles Pena, a senior fellow with the Independent Institute, an Oakland, Calif., think tank.

"In theory, if the Aegis system works the way it should, it would provide intercept capability, particularly against targets in southern Europe," he said. "But the larger issue with missile defense is that it’s still not a proven technology. It is tough to hit ballistic missiles in flight because they are traveling so fast."

The Obama administration plans to first deploy missile defenses for southern Europe, according to Philip Coyle III, senior advisor at the Center for Defense Information in Sacramento, Calif.

"Then missile defenses will be added farther north to distribute missile defense forces in the event that Iran develops longer range missiles that can reach all of Europe," he said. "Currently Iran does not have missiles that can reach all of Europe."

The Navy said in September that "at least two or three" Aegis ballistic missile defense ships would be deployed to patrol the waters around Europe by 2011. The Defense Department budget includes $1.7 billion in research funding for the Aegis program. A study prepared by Raytheon, which builds missile interceptors for Aegis ships, said as few as five warships could defend Europe from Iranian missiles.

Lockheed officials say the Aegis system also could be based on land if friendly governments would allow bases to be built.

"Whether they are on land or sea doesn’t matter as much as whether they are in the right place to make the intercept," said Pena of the Independent Institute.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

The Aegis ships are equipped with a missile known as the SM-3, which gained international acclaim in February 2008 when a souped-up version was launched from a Navy cruiser in the Pacific and shot down a failing U.S. satellite in space.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has spoken publicly about a new approach to missile defenses, both in Europe and the Gulf.

"I don't want to get into it in too much detail," Gates said in September. "but the reality is we are working both on a bilateral and a multilateral basis in the Gulf to establish the same kind of regional missile defense that would protect our facilities out there as well as our friends and allies."

Gates said the adjusted approach is based in part on a belief by U.S. intelligence that Iran has not been progressing as fast as previously believed on development of a long-range ballistic missile, but is concentrating more heavily on short- and medium-range missiles of the sort that the Patriot and the Aegis systems are designed to defend against.

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Aegis Weapon System Tested During International Multiple Ship Demonstration
MOORESTOWN, N.J., March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), in support of the U.S. Navy, successfully completed Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) for Aegis Combat Systems installed aboard U.S. and Spanish navy ships. The last time these two nations participated in a combined CSSQT was in 2007.

The latest event was conducted at sea last week in the vicinity of Pt. Mugu, CA and involved U.S. Navy destroyers USS Dewey (DDG 105) and USS Wayne E Meyer (DDG 108) along with the Spanish Navy frigate Alvaro de Bazan (F-101).

During the CSSQT, the ships' Aegis Combat Systems were evaluated for combat-readiness through comprehensive surface, subsurface and anti-air warfare exercises, including manned raids and electronic attack scenarios, as well as thorough testing of the systems' tactical data link and air defense capabilities.

"In addition to unmatched capabilities against all threats at sea, these qualification trials emphasize the global interoperability Aegis provides the U.S. Navy and its allies," said Jeff Bantle, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors in Moorestown, N.J. "The contributions of our industry partners Navantia, Indra, RYMSA, Sainsel and other Spanish companies have been critical factors in the success of the Spanish F-100 frigate program, as well as in the support of the international fleet of Aegis-equipped ships."

The Aegis Weapon System includes the SPY-1 radar, the Navy's most advanced radar system. When paired with the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, it is capable of delivering missiles for every mission and threat environment in naval warfare. The Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on more than 90 ships around the globe with at least 14 more ships planned. In addition to the U.S., Aegis is the weapon system of choice for Australia, Japan, Korea, Norway, and Spain.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

[nancy (ian's mom & tanya's mil)]

I haven't been in this room in awhile. I should have been checking. Good information Mary. My son is an FC and involved with the Aegis system. His ship is still being built and scheduled to be launched next summer. Is there anyway of finding out which ships they are thinking of sending to Europe? He is in San Diego now and still getting his school finished. He did GL then Dahlgren. He has said his ship he ends up with ( one of two at this point) will either be stationed in SD or Hawaii. Thanks for all the info.

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Nancy,
I'm hearing more and more about ships heading to Europe next year, don't know if the process/decisions have been made public as of yet but wouldn't mind if I HAD to go visit a ship there!!!