As part of the At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 exercise, the U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG- 117) fired two Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors to engage ballistic missile targets launched from the Hebrides Range on May 26 and 30. The Ignatius is equipped with Aegis Baseline 9 (U.S. Navy Photo)
By Rich Abott |
@ReaderRabott
1 year ago |
01/05/2023
missile defense

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a n undefinitized contract action (UCA) on Dec. 28 worth up to $528 million to expand performance of the Aegis Weapon System for air and missile defense capabilities in Guam.

This award includes all potential options under the UCA and “expands performance of the Aegis Weapon System to implement Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities into an Aegis Guam System.”

As part of the At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 exercise, the U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG- 117) fired two Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors to engage ballistic missile targets launched from the Hebrides Range on May 26 and 30. The Ignatius is equipped with Aegis Baseline 9 (U.S. Navy Photo)
As part of the At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 exercise, the U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG- 117) fired two Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors to engage ballistic missile targets launched from the Hebrides Range on May 26 and 30. The Ignatius is equipped with Aegis Baseline 9 (U.S. Navy Photo)

At the time of the award, MDA initially obligated $11 million via fiscal year 2023 research and development funds.

Work will occur in Moorestown, N.J., and is expected to last through December 2027.

The announcement said with this UCA, the Aegis Guam system contract value increases from the previous $812 million by another $425 million to a new total of $1.2 billion. 

In July notice, MDA said it planned to award Lockheed Martin a sole source contract for the Aegis Guam System to be delivered in 2024 (Defense Daily, July 6).

The notice said an initial incremental delivery of an Aegis Guam System is expected to reach a facility in Guam by the fourth quarter of FY ‘24, with subsequent deliveries in fiscal years 2026 and 2028.

Then, in August, MDA awarded Lockheed Martin a $724 million undefinitized contract option to design, develop and deliver the Homeland Defense Radar (HDR)-G system to Guam. The HDR-G system seeks to provide improved tracking and discrimination to enhance layered air and missile defense of Guam (Defense Daily, Sept. 2).

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Navy sailors manning the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex (AAMDTC) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii, successfully conduct launch a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptor in Flight Test Integrated-03 (FTI-03). (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Navy sailors manning the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex (AAMDTC) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii, successfully conduct launch a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptor in Flight Test Integrated-03 (FTI-03). (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)

Last March, MDA said its chosen architecture to defend Guam includes mobile unit versions of the Aegis Combat System, Raytheon Technologies [RTX] Standard Missile (SM)-3 and SM-6 missiles, and the Northrop Grumman [NOC] Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS). The Defense Department will also maintain the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system battery already posted to Guam (Defense Daily, March 29).

The MDA’s DY ‘23 budget request included $539 million to continue developing and procuring components for Guam air and missile defense (Defense Daily, April 1).