(NSI News Source Info) CAMDEN, ARKANSAS - April 14, 2009: Lockheed Martin officially rolled out the new Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System launcher and Fire Control and Communications unit today in a ceremony at the company’s THAAD Launcher Integration Complex in Camden, AR.
The ceremony, attended by U.S. Senator Mark Pryor and U.S. Congressman Mark Ross, commemorated the delivery of the first THAAD ground segment vehicles to come off the production line in Camden.
The THAAD weapon system consists of Launchers, Missiles, Battle Management/Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (BMC3I) units and THAAD radars.
The THAAD (theatre high-altitude area defence) missile system is an easily transportable defensive weapon system to protect against hostile incoming threats such as tactical and theatre ballistic missiles at ranges of 200km and at altitudes up to 150km. The US Army is expected to acquire 80 to 99 THAAD launchers, 18 ground-based radars and a total of 1,422 THAAD missiles. Two THAAD battalions are planned, each with four batteries.
In 1992 Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space and other industrial team partners were awarded a $689m contract to develop the THAAD system. Raytheon was selected as sub-contractor to develop the ground-based radar. Raytheon is responsible for the solid-state receiver / transmitter modules. TRW is responsible for software development. The other main contractors are Raytheon for the traveling wave tubes, Datatape for the data recorders and EBCO for radar turrets.
The THAAD programme entered the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase in 2000. In May 2004, production of 16 flight test missiles began at Lockheed Martin's new production facilities in Pike County, Alabama.
Flight testing, at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, of the EMD system began in 2005. The first flight test of the entire system including missile, launcher, radar and fire control system took place in May 2006. Flight testing began at Pacific Missile Range, Kauai, Hawaii in January 2007 with a successful intercept test in the high endo-atmosphere.
A second successful test took place in April 2007 with intercept in the mid endo-atmosphere. The final White Sands test took place in June 2007, with a low endo-atmosphere test. In October 2007, THAAD performed a successful intercept of a unitary target outside the atmosphere (exo-atmospheric). In June 2008, THAAD successfully intercepted a separating target in mid-endo-atmosphere. Tests will continue at PMR till 2009.
The new hardware will be delivered to Soldiers at Fort Bliss, TX, who will have a fully operational THAAD battery (equipment and personnel) by the end of 2009.
“What the hardworking employees of Lockheed Martin’s Camden Operations have accomplished in such a short time is a testament to their dedication to our troops,” said U.S. Senator Mark Pryor. “It gives me great pride to know that one of the world’s most advanced and proven air defense systems is produced, in part, here in the great state of Arkansas.”
“The THAAD system will play a pivotal role in our nation’s missile defense, and today’s rollout is an encouraging sign of the tremendous progress we’re making in this vital technology,” said U.S. Congressman Mike Ross. “The Camden area employees of Lockheed Martin have a long history of success and today is no exception. I thank them for their hard work in providing our military with the technology it needs to protect and defend our troops and our homeland.”
“This is truly a great day for air defenders,” said Tom McGrath, vice president of the THAAD program at Lockheed Martin. “We are proud to deliver this proven air defense capability to our forces. We are seeing the incredible power of THAAD to protect our Warfighters and population centers with each successful test flight, and now we are seeing the reality of production hardware rolling off the line.”
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the THAAD Weapon System. The company’s new 200,000 square-foot Launcher Integration Complex at Camden Operations currently has an employee population of approximately 600.
“This is an outstanding example of government/industry partnership to achieve great things for the Warfighter,” said Glenn David Woods, Camden Operations plant manager for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Our commitment is to produce the world’s most advanced and effective air defense capability for our Soldiers and allies.”
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 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 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.
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