Ross Wilkers
Lockheed Martin is holding a series of tests to evaluate an updated missile defense system the company is building for the U.S. Navy.
Four additional live firing exercises will be completed aboard the USS Chancellorsville will host four live firing exercises before the ship starts combat system qualification trials later this year, Lockheed said Thursday.
The Chancellorsville is the first of four Aegis cruisers set to receive a baseline nine upgrade for its Aegis Combat System, followed by the USS Normandy, USS Princeton and USS Cape St. George.
“Every day our customers face a growing number of threats from our adversaries, which requires a continuous evolution in capabilities,“ said Jim Sheridan, director of U.S. Navy Aegis programs for Lockheed’s mission systems and training business.
Lockheed reported that during the Chancellorsville test, its Aegis Weapon System sent tracking orders to the ship’s gun system by performing ballistic computations and sending pointing orders.
The system also prepared ammunition and fired five-inch projectiles as the ship launched a Standard Missile-2 at the target, according to the company.
