Lockheed nabs $240M contract for ballistic missile modeling, simulation

Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin announced on Wednesday that it has secured a $240 million Missile Defense Agency contract for ballistic defense modeling and simulation.

The Modeling and Simulation Contract-Framework and Tools, or MASC-F, will offer potential simulations of situations for the Ballistic Missile Defense System, the company said Tuesday when it announced the deal.

"Testing the different elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System together is an extremely complicated process," said J.D. Hammond, vice president of C4ISR systems at Lockheed Martin. "MASC-F will enable the MDA to run 'what-if' scenarios before fielding new configurations to ensure the warfighter gets the most effective system possible."

MASC-F will provide computer-based tools, modeling, algorithms and analysis techniques to integrate real-world hardware and constructive models from each of the BMDS program elements into a single system that accurately represents the performance of fielded BMDS equipment, Lockheed said.

The BMDS is designed to counter ballistic missiles of all ranges and is integrated with "layered architecture" to account for the sizes and ranges of potential incoming missiles.

The system's architecture includes networked sensors for tracking on land, sea and in space; ground- and sea-based interceptor missiles for destroying a ballistic missile using either the force of a direct collision, called "hit-to-kill" technology; and a command, control, battle management, and communications network providing the operational commanders with the needed links between the sensors and interceptor missiles.