First Battery of THAAD Weapon System Activated at Fort Bliss

DALLAS, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army today activated the first
battery of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System,
developed by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and produced by Lockheed
Martin (NYSE: LMT), in a ceremony at Fort Bliss, TX.

Alpha Battery/4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense
Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command will receive 24
THAAD interceptors, three THAAD launchers, a THAAD Fire Control and a THAAD
radar as part of the initial fielding. In addition, the battery will have
logistics support assets, such as the Battery Support Center and Integrated
Contractor Support System, as well as the necessary spares for a fielded
unit.

"This is a historic day for the U.S. Army's Air Defense community,"
said Tom McGrath, program manager and vice president for THAAD at Lockheed
Martin. "The first battery receiving the THAAD Weapon System signifies that
we are one step closer to the day THAAD will be protecting our Soldiers,
friends and allies around the globe."

The A4 Battery is receiving the THAAD Weapon System now to allow the
unit to prepare for full-system fielding beginning in 2009. Unit training
on the THAAD equipment is already underway. The first New Equipment
Training Classes began in April, and the battery is well on its way to
creating an operational unit.

"The THAAD Weapon System is enjoying excellent success in this current
development phase," McGrath continued. "THAAD's precision engagement
capabilities, combined with the power of the hit-to-kill engagement, offer
the Warfighter tremendous protection from the threats of today and
tomorrow. Soldiers from Fort Bliss have successfully operated the THAAD
system in flight testing for two years, and will continue as flight testing
progresses."

THAAD flight testing continues later this year, with two flights
scheduled before the end of Fiscal Year 2008 in September and two during
FY09, which commences October 1. Since November 2005, the THAAD Weapon
System program has conducted seven successful flight tests, including four
tests involving the successful intercept of threat representative targets.

A production contract for the first two fire units was awarded to
Lockheed Martin in late 2006. THAAD launcher and fire control and
communications unit production will take place at Lockheed Martin's
manufacturing facility in Camden, AR. Interceptor production is conducted
at Lockheed Martin's Pike County Facility in Troy, AL.

THAAD is designed to defend U.S. troops, allied forces, population
centers and critical infrastructure against short- to intermediate-range
ballistic missiles. THAAD comprises a fire control and communications
system, interceptors, launchers and a radar. The THAAD interceptor uses
hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets, and THAAD is the only weapon
system that engages threat ballistic missiles at both endo- and
exo-atmospheric altitudes.

A key element of the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS),
THAAD is a Missile Defense Agency program, with the program office located
in Huntsville, AL. The agency is developing a BMDS to defend the United
States, its deployed forces, friends and allies against ballistic missiles
of all ranges and 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 all major U.S. missile defense systems and
participates in several global missile defense partnerships.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin 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.

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For additional information, visit our website:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com

Army activates new missile system battery

The Army adds a new arrow to its quiver of air defense weapons Wednesday with the activation of the first Terminal High Altitude Air Defense missile system battery at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The new THAAD unit is Alpha Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, an element of the multi-functional 11th Air Defense Brigade.

THAAD is an easily transportable system for protecting airfields, population centers and other high-value targets against tactical and theater missiles at ranges out to 125 miles and altitudes of nearly 100 miles.

The system is capable of destroying targets by kinetic impact inside and outside the atmosphere.

The weapon is the high-altitude component of a tiered air defense array. The Patriot system protects against lower altitude threats.

Sources expect that the Army eventually will field two THAAD battalions of four batteries of eight launchers each.



http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/army_THAAD_052808w/

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9408908

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