U.S. Missile Defense Agency Adds $295 Million to Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Combat System Contract

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training of Moorestown, N.J., will continue to develop the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense combat system as part of a $295 million contract modification announced by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) July 1.

The change increases the contract’s value from $1.43 billion to $1.7 billion. 

According to a release from the U.S. Defense Department, Lockheed will provide system engineering and program management services to help the 5.1 variant of the ballistic missile defense system reach critical milestones. Aegis consists of tracking radars and a battle management system. The 5.1 variant of Aegis is expected to focus on longer range threats and an “engage on remote” capability, where the system’s Raytheon-built Standard Missile-3 Block 2A interceptors rely on offboard data to find their targets. The system is expected to be ready in 2018.

The work will run through March 30, 2015.