Lockheed-Developed Radar Panel Delivered to MDA Alaska Site

An Alaska-based facility of the Missile Defense Agency has received an initial Lockheed Martin-developed radar panel for an MDA-led program. Lockheed said Tuesday that the delivery marks a milestone of MDA’s Long Range Discrimination Radar program, which intends to protect the U.S. from ballistic missile threats. In addition, the company also installed the radar shelter’s final beam at the facility, which is located in Clear, Alaska.

Following technology readiness testing that took place December last year, the LRDR program is now working towards its full-rate manufacturing phase. Lockheed demonstrated the system with software developed in the company’s Solid State Radar Integration Site. The program’s team also concluded framework construction of the facility that will shelter the LRDR system.

“Crews from Lockheed Martin, Haskell Davis Joint Venture and local Alaskan contractors have worked through challenging conditions, including sub-zero temperatures, in constructing the radar facility,” said Chandra Marshall, director of Lockheed Martin’s MDA Radars.

MDA expects to complete and deliver LRDR by 2020. The system will function as part of the agency’s layered defense strategy.