Army lines up lifecycle support for missile defense system

Lockheed Martin Corp. will supply the Army with assistance fielding and maintaining a weapon system designed to defend against short-and-midrange ballistic missiles under a contract with a potential value of $435 million over nine years.

Under the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, Lockheed Martin will provide support for the fielding of the anti-ballistic missile system known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, company officials said April 22.

Lockheed Martin initially will support the Army throughout limited user testing, the officials said. After that, the company will provide life cycle support consisting of maintenance, supply support, product assistance and training.

The Army activated the first THAAD battery in May 2008 at Fort Bliss, Texas. Soldiers trained on the battery will operate it during limited user testing starting this month.

In October 2009, the Army activated a second THAAD battery, also based at Fort Bliss. Unit training for the second battery is scheduled to begin in May.

The THAAD system is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles with a trajectory inside and outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. The program has conducted 10 successful test firings, including six successful target intercepts.

THAAD, a Missile Defense Agency program, is part of a comprehensive ballistic missile defense system designed to defend the United States, its deployed forces and its allies against ballistic missiles of all ranges and in all phases of flight.

Lockheed Martin is headquartered in Bethesda, Md.