Lockheed Martin, ThalesRaytheonSystems announce partnership on NATO Alliance ballistic missile defense capabilities

Lockheed Martin and ThalesRaytheonSystems signed a joint venture on Tuesday to provide territorial ballistic missile defense (BMD) command and control capability to the NATO Alliance.

The agreement establishes a team of industry representatives from NATO member countries to advance low-risk capabilities for NATO’s Air Command and Control (BMD) program. Forged at the 2010 Lisbon Summit, the program aims to enhance, test and integrate NATO”s command and control systems and communications networks to enhance collaboration among alliance members.

“Our companies are committed to providing the best technical and program talent available to provide a low risk and operationally relevant NATO BMD capability,” Dave Gulla, vice president of mission systems and solutions at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, said. “We are confident that this teaming framework creates the best value for NATO and ensures delivery of a timely and effective territorial BMD capability.”

Rob Smith, vice president of C4ISR at Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, said the company will leverage the Defense Design System that it delivered for NATO BMD planning capabilities to develop and integrate weapon systems that meet alliance goals.

“Lockheed’s success in delivering the command and control capability for U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System is a result of our focus on end user needs,” Smith said. “We delivered a very complex C2 capability that is intuitive and effective for mission execution. We accomplished this in partnership with Raytheon and other U.S. companies, and we look forward to delivering this capability with ThalesRaytheonSystems.”

Thomas Got, head of the air operations and weapons system line of business for Thales Group, said the teaming agreement will reinforce existing partnerships among the four companies and bring about innovative solutions.

“This Teaming Agreement codifies the relationship established with Lockheed Martin in 2008 to deliver NATO’s Theater Missile Defence capability,” Eric Marceau, CEO of the ThalesRaytheonSystems, said. “It will further our collaboration to deliver the full spectrum capability the Alliance requires for territorial Ballistic Missile Defense. This team will provide the operational command and control capability for the protection for all NATO European populations, territory and forces against the threats posed by ballistic missiles.”