Lockheed receives Aegis development contract

WASHINGTON, May 27 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Training has been awarded a $62.4 million U.S. Navy contract modification for work on the Aegis combat system's development and test sites.

The exercised options include work on Aegis' technical engineering, configuration management, associated equipment and supplies, quality assurance, information assurance, and other operation and maintenance efforts pertaining to the Combat Systems Engineering Development site, SPY-1A Test Facility and the Naval Systems Computer Center.

Work will be performed in New Jersey and is expected to be completed by June 2017.

The Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting authority.

Aegis is able to simultaneously attack submarines, surface ships and land targets while automatically protecting the fleet against cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft. Aegis Ashore is the land-based version of the ballistic missile defense system, with a facility recently opening in Romania.