Article Posted on : - Apr 11, 2011

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA (BNS): The US Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin a $43.3 million contract for concept definition and programme planning for the Standard Missile-3 Block IIB (SM-3 IIB).

The new missile, formerly known as the Next Generation Aegis Missile, will provide early intercept capability against intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile threats.

The missile will be integrated into the Aegis Weapon System, with the Aegis BMD 5.1 Fire Control and the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, as part of the land-based Aegis Ashore capability.

The 32-month concept definition and programme planning phase will focus on defining design objectives, conducting trade studies to establish a technical baseline, reducing technology risk and developing an executable programme plan, Lockheed said.