Northrop Grumman-Built Aegis Destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) Performs Well in the Ship’s Acceptance Trial

June 29, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News, northrop grumman 
Northrop Grumman-Built Aegis Destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) Performs Well in the Ship's Acceptance Trial
June 29, 2010

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) Aegis guided missile destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) returned successfully from her first-ever sea trial last week in the Gulf of Mexico. Reaching this milestone paved the way for delivery to the U.S. Navy later this summer. The destroyer is being built by the company at its Gulf Coast facilities in Pascagoula, Miss.

DDG 107's super trial, normally combining builder's and U.S. Navy acceptance trials, was modified to an integrated acceptance trial to mitigate the impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"We made a commitment to take DDG 107 to sea and we were able to do that despite the current situation in the Gulf," said Richard Schenk, test and trials vice president for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. "The Northrop Grumman/Navy sea trial team worked extremely well together to test the ship's systems, which performed very well. Any testing that could not be accomplished because of the oil spill will be achieved at a later date. I couldn't be more excited of our team's efforts."

During the trial, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) tested the ship's communications and propulsion systems, and conducted several other inspections including habitability.

"We're pleased with the flexibility of Northrop Grumman and the entire team in making the sea trial a success," said U.S. Navy Capt. Steve Mitchell, deputy for operations, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast. "In the areas of focus such as propulsion and damage control, among others, we're happy with the improving trends in these areas. I was proud to be teammates with the shipyard on this trial."

"The shipbuilders and Navy team worked well together, and despite the short time at-sea, we were able to perform necessary tests in a quality manner," said George Nungesser, Northrop Grumman's DDG 51 program manager. "The response we've received from the Navy has been excellent and we greatly reduced the number of trial cards from the last sea trial."

U.S. Navy Commander Doug Kunzman is the ship's first commanding officer and will lead a crew of over 300 officers and sailors. The 510-foot, 9,500-ton Gravely has an overall beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas-turbine propulsion plants will power the ship to speeds above 30 knots.

This highly capable multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States' military strategy. Gravely will be capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

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Bath Iron Works Awarded $114 Million Contract for Advanced Procurement of Aegis Destroyer Long Lead Material

March 1, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: General Dynamics, Syndicated Industry News 
Bath Iron Works Awarded $114 Million Contract for Advanced Procurement of Aegis Destroyer Long Lead Material
March 1, 2010 1:05:15 PM

BATH, Maine, -- The U. S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), a contract valued at up to $114 million to procure long lead material to support the anticipated construction of DDG 115 under the DDG 51 class destroyer program. Procurement efforts are expected to complete by December 2012.

Bath Iron Works president, Jeff Geiger, stated, "This award is the first step leading to continued construction of Aegis destroyers at BIW for many years to come. As the lead shipbuilder of the class, we have a track record of excellent performance in both procurement and construction activities across the 31 ships of this class we've built in the last two and a half decades. We're excited about the opportunity to continue that performance."

Bath Iron Works, a leader in surface combatant design and construction, employs approximately 5,600 people. Since 1991, BIW has manufactured and delivered 31 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world, to the U.S. Navy. Three additional ships are currently under construction for delivery by 2011. In addition, BIW is the lead designer and builder for the Navy's DDG 1000 Zumwalt class program.

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Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Upgrade Successfully Tracks Sophisticated Missile Targets in Exercise Series — Press Release

December 18, 2009 by Matthew Potter · View Comments
Filed under: Editorial 

Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Upgrade Successfully Tracks Sophisticated Missile Targets in Exercise Series

MOORESTOWN, N.J., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ — The second generation of Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE:LMT) Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, BMD 4.0.1, successfully detected, tracked and conducted simulated engagements against a variety of different ballistic missile targets during a series of tracking exercises in the Pacific.

The key feature of the new system is a new integrated signal processor designed to improve the system’s discrimination capability to defeat sophisticated ballistic missiles and their countermeasures.

During a series of four tests, the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie – upgraded with the BMD 4.0.1 Weapon System – successfully detected, tracked and guided simulated Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IBs to intercept ballistic missile targets launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai. The targets ranged from simple separating medium-range missiles to sophisticated, separating short-range missiles designed to confuse missile-defense systems.

During the tests, USS Lake Erie transmitted data via a tactical data link to other ships and shore command facilities.

Over the next year, USS Lake Erie will complete additional tests, leading up to full operational certification of the Aegis BMD 4.0.1 system in early 2011.

“We were thrilled to see the significant performance improvements with the Aegis BMD 4.0.1 Weapon System and the preliminary data shows the system’s performance matched our predictions,” said Lisa Callahan, Lockheed Martin’s vice president, Maritime BMD Programs. “These exercises allowed us to get an early look at the system. We’re eager to learn from these events, focus on the remaining development and enable the improved capability to reach the fleet. ”

The guided missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and the Japanese Aegis destroyer JS Myoko (DDG 175) also participated in the events, exercising their respective systems in parallel with the USS Lake Erie, and providing additional crew training opportunities for both ships.

The 92 Aegis-equipped ships currently in service around the globe have more than 950 years of at-sea operational experience and have launched more than 3,500 missiles in tests and real-world operations. In addition to the United States, Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Australia, Japan, Norway, South Korea and Spain.

The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the United States’ Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Recently the Navy’s independent operational test agent assessed the Aegis BMD and SM-3 Block IA system to be operationally effective and operationally suitable. Currently, a total of 22 Aegis BMD-equipped warships – 19 in the U.S. Navy and three in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force – have the certified capability to engage ballistic missiles and perform long-range surveillance and tracking missions. Two additional U.S. East Coast-based Aegis-equipped ships are being modified to perform ballistic missile defense in the several months and an additional Japanese destroyer will be upgraded by 2010.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 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.

For additional information, visit our website:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

Source: Lockheed Martin

CONTACT: Kathy Baier, Lockheed Martin, +1-856-722-3006; +1-609-472-7954
(cell), Kathleen.m.baier@lmco.com

Web Site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/534163.html

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