Track Testing of Latest Aegis Weapon System Completed

Released on Thursday, April 03, 2003

The Lockheed-Martin company has announced the completion of the first live shipboard testing of the new SPY-1D(V) radar system. SPY-1D(V) successfully detected live air tracks.

This successful testing marks a significant milestone for the Aegis weapon system that provides offensive and defensive capabilities to destroyers, frigates and cruisers around the world.

The new SPY-1D(V) has been modified to operate efficiently in littoral environments as well as a more sophisticated capability to defeat electronic countermeasures.

The AN/SQQ-89 Undersea Warfare System has also been upgraded incorporating Lockheed-Martin's new Remote Mine Hunting System.

The organic remote mine hunting system will add mine reconnaissance to fleet battle groups.

The latest Aegis upgrade contains the first COTS advanced processing computing architecture. This is a major step toward an open architecture, which eases introduction of future computing features and upgrades.

The 41st Arleigh A. Burke-class destroyer, the DDG-91 USS Pinckney, shall be the first US Navy's ship to be equipped with the upgraded Aegis weapon system. 22 Aegis-equipped destroyers will be outfitted with the SPY-1D(V) improved radar system.

To date, Ticonderoga-class battle cruisers and Burke-class destroyers are equipped with the Aegis weapon system. Outside the United States the Aegis weapon systems are being provided to Japan's Kongo-class destroyers, South Korea's KDX-III destroyers, Spain's F-100-class frigates and Norway's F-310 class frigates.