U.S. Integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System Commemorates 10 Years Of Operation, Begins Initial Testing For Next Upgrade

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Dec 10, 2014, 11:03 ET

DENVER, Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marked the 10th anniversary of the first operational deployment of the Command Control, Battle Management & Communications (C2BMC) system, the critical part of the ballistic missile defense system that integrates globally deployed sensors, radars, satellites and interceptors into a unified network.

C2BMC gives commanders a unified picture of missile threats across the globe, allowing them to link any sensor, any shooter, at any phase of missile flight in any region, against any type of ballistic threat.

As the C2BMC prime contractor, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) leads the Missile Defense National Team, a partnership of highly responsive industry leaders that includes Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics and approximately 20 other smaller companies with expertise in key areas. This team recently delivered the latest system upgrade, Spiral 8.2, to the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center (MDIOC) for formal testing.

"With the growing volatility and unrest across the world, maintaining advanced missile defense is imperative to our nation's security," said Dr. Rob Smith, vice president of C4ISR for Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions. "Delivering this latest upgrade to the MDA for testing two months ahead of schedule underscores our commitment to ensure that C2BMC remains at the core of our nation's strong ballistic missile defense capability."

C2BMC Spiral 8.2 represents more than two million lines of software code that will upgrade the system's sensor to shooter capabilities to enable better debris mitigation, boost phase cueing and improved situational awareness. By providing secure network communications for individual sensors and weapon elements as well as high-availability connectivity, Spiral 8.2 will improve integration of Allied systems and information flow in all theaters, allowing faster information sharing across the global Ballistic Missile Defense System.

This upgrade also offers efficiencies that will reduce hardware equipment racks by up to 60 percent, which will significantly lower power and cooling needs and ultimately life cycle costs. After the MDIOC completes cycle 2 testing, the Spiral 8.2 software will enter operational and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

C2BMC currently is fielded in 33 locations, including U.S. Strategic, Northern, European, Pacific, and Central Commands. The system operates 24/7 over 17 time zones and is supported by more than 48,000 miles of Defense Information Systems Agency communication lines.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

For additional information, visit: Lockheed Martin C2BMC

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin