SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 7 /EMWNews/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)

announced today that its team has successfully completed testing of a key

propulsion system component for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Multiple

Kill Vehicle-L (MKV-L) payload. The divert thruster -- a component of the

MKV-L carrier vehicle's divert and attitude control subsystem -- met

performance requirements in a series of static, hot-fire tests at the White

Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M.



    During an engagement with the enemy, this high-performance propulsion

system maneuvers the carrier vehicle and its cargo of kill vehicles into

the threat complex to intercept the targets. With tracking data from the

Ballistic Missile Defense System and its own seeker, the carrier vehicle

dispenses and guides the kill vehicles to destroy targets in the complex.



    "This accomplishment shows our continued progress in developing the

critical capabilities for the Multiple Kill Vehicle-L payload," said Rick

Reginato, Multiple Kill Vehicle program director, Lockheed Martin Space

Systems Company.



    Next, a hover test of the entire propulsion system for the carrier

vehicle will be conducted at the National Hover Test Facility, Edwards Air

Force Base, Calif. In this controlled flight test, the divert and attitude

control system subsystem for the carrier vehicle, which includes the

thrusters, will be integrated with the guidance and control hardware

subsystem.



    "Completing successful testing of the thruster enables the team to

proceed with the planned hover test, a key performance event in payload

development," said Randy Riley, MKV Hover Test Vehicle program director,

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.



    The MKV-L Hover Test Vehicle development team for the Missile Defense

Agency includes: Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif.,

prime contractor for the Multiple Kill Vehicle-L payload system; Pratt &

Whitney Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, Calif., a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:

UTX) company, and Octant Technologies Inc., San Jose, Calif.



    The Missile Defense Agency's Multiple Kill Vehicle is a force

multiplier for all of the land- and sea-based weapons of the integrated

midcourse missile defense system. In the event of an enemy launch, a single

interceptor equipped with this payload destroys not only the re-entry

vehicle but also all credible threat objects, including countermeasures the

enemy deploys to try to spoof our defenses. This many-on-many strategy

eliminates the need for extensive pre-launch intelligence while leveraging

the Ballistic Missile Defense System's discrimination capability, ensuring

a robust and affordable solution to emerging threats. Developing, testing

and deploying a layered Ballistic Missile Defense System for the U.S.

homeland, its deployed forces, friends and allies is essential for

protecting against ballistic missiles of all ranges in all phases of

flight.



    Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the

development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including

the first operational hit-to-kill missile. It also has considerable

experience in missile design and production, infrared seekers, command and

control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and

tracking optics, as well as radar and signal processing. The company makes

significant contributions to nearly all major U.S. missile defense systems

and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.



    Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security

company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally

engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and

sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The

corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.






                                Media Contact:

     Lockheed Martin:  Lynn Fisher, 408-742-7606; [email protected]



             Approved for Public Release 08-MDA-3687 (10 JULY 08)