Missile Defense Agency names five Norfolk destroyers for BMD upgrade

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced Thursday the names of the next six ships that will join the Navy’s Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) fleet, all of which are stationed on the East Coast.

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The upgrade will go to five destroyers from Naval Station Norfolk, Va.: Ross and Donald Cook in fiscal 2012, and Cole, McFaul and Porter in fiscal 2013. One ship from Naval Station Mayport, Fla., the Carney, will get the BMD upgrade in fiscal 2012.

MDA’s current goal is to have 21 BMD ships by the end of 2010; 24 in 2012; and 27 around 2013. The goal is to have nearly every Aegis ship BMD capable in time, so they all, or nearly all, provide this critical capability to the fleet.

Lockheed Martin engineers are working now on adding the BMD upgrade to the Norfolk cruisers Vella Gulf and Monterey. Plans call for the next cruisers to get BMD capability in fiscal 2015 and 16.

Lockheed Martin Corp will furnish a wide range of ongoing development support for the Aegis ballistic missile defense weapon system under a contract valued at $1 billion.

Nineteen U.S. Navy ships and two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships currently have the capability to engage ballistic missiles and conduct long-range surveillance and tracking missions.

The Aegis Weapon System constitutes the sea-based element of the nation’s BMD system. Its SPY-1 radar and integrated command and control system guides the interceptor and sends target tracking information to the missile for terminal homing.

Lockheed Martin ranks No. 1 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.