THE TENSION: Wire: Lockheed Martin Wins $78.6 Million Navy Contract

In this Feb. 2008 file photo, a single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), successfully impacting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean, as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. (U.S. Navy photo.)

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2009 -- The Washington Business Journal today reported that Lockheed Martin Corp. won a $78.6 million contract to produce upgrades for the Aegis naval defense system, which can detect, track and engage targets ranging from sea-skimming cruise missiles to ballistic missiles in space.

The contract will help move toward full combat system modernization on all of the Navy’s Aegis destroyers, according to the Bethesda-based defense giant (NYSE: LMT).

The upgrade equipment sets include new tactical computing equipment, upgraded consoles and displays, a secure voice communication system and associated peripheral equipment.

“The modernization equipment sets and the Multi-Mission Signal Processor are all part of the continuing evolution of Aegis that will lead to the merger of Aegis Open Architecture and Aegis [Ballistic Missile Defense] in 2012,” said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager for Lockheed Martin’s surface/sea-based missile defense systems line of business, in a statement.