CHELMSFORD, Mass., 19 June 2009. Mercury Computer Systems Inc., a provider of embedded, high-performance computing systems and software for image, sensor, and signal processing applications, has delivered on an initial order and received a follow-on order from Lockheed Martin for the Aegis Weapon System upgrade.
In February 2009, Lockheed Martin won a $78.6 million production contract from the U.S. Navy to provide the next evolution of hardware for the Aegis Modernization and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) programs, says a representative. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the Aegis Weapon System is an operational sea-based radar and weapon system capable of simultaneous warfare against air, surface, subsurface, and land targets.
Mercury is delivering on an order for its next-generation Ensemble 7100 components and systems, which will be integrated on both land and ship sites for the Multi-Mission Signal Processor (MMSP) upgrade. It is a key component to provide ballistic missile defense capability to Aegis-equipped destroyers undergoing modernization beginning in 2012.
A follow-on order also calls for Mercury to provide PowerStream 7000 production systems for the first two ships in the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Signal Processor (BSP) 4.0.1 upgrade, now undergoing testing for existing Aegis BMD-capable cruisers and destroyers. Mercury will also provide integration services for the upgrades.
According to Lockheed Martin, the BSP and MMSP upgrades will be installed on up to nine ships per year. The MMSP upgrade is said to help set the stage for implementation of a single commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) architecture.
"The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Signal Processor and Multi-Mission Signal Processor will provide fleet commanders with a great leap in capability to detect, track and target ballistic missile targets," says Allan Croly, Lockheed Martin's director of Naval Radar Programs. "Mercury's PowerStream 7000 and Ensemble 7100 support operational upgrades in the near term, and provide a software migration path to the industry-standard Linux operating system and the Navy's open architecture objective."
"With the deep expertise of our engineering team, and our powerful COTS-based multicomputing technology, we'll help enable Lockheed Martin to maintain an aggressive implementation schedule for these critical performance upgrades," says Didier Thibaud, senior vice president and general manager of Advanced Computing Solutions at Mercury.
