Furthering the combined efforts of Lockheed Martin and the US Navy to adapt to the ever-changing defense landscape, the Aegis Combat System has successfully completed its first round of live firing tests. Those tests proved that the system is capable of integrating data from a remote sensor in order to intercept a target that is out of range from its line of sight. Using the system’s Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) to interpret data, Aegis launched a Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) from the USS Chancellorsville (CG-62). This marks the first Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) test at sea.
The US Navy and Lockheed Martin have been working on modernization programs for the Aegis Combat System on cruisers and destroyers –both to extend service life and provide new technologies to the ships and their crews. With the success of the NIFC-CA test, ships receiving the Aegis system upgrades will be able to field open-architecture and commercial-off-the-shelf technologies. In doing so, they will be able to reduce total ownership costs while ensuring military readiness for ongoing missile-defense needs.