Lockheed Martin to Provide Aegis System Support for Australian Navy Warships

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems has received a more than $41-million contract to provide computer program maintenance to Australian Navy Hobart class warships carrying the Aegis missile interceptor system, the Department of Defense said in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Work on the project will be carried out at Locations in the United States and at Adelaide and Sydney in Australia and is expected to be completed by November 2019, the Defense Department said.

"Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training [of] Moorestown, New Jersey is being awarded a $41,765,876… contract for Aegis foreign military sales… support services consisting of computer program maintenance… [for] Australian Navy Hobart class ships," the release said on Tuesday.

The first Australian Navy destroyer equipped with the Aegis battle management system was tested last year in preparation for deployment. The ships are equipped with Aegis-directed vertical rocket launchers capable of delivering missiles for different missions and threat environments.

Three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers are being built for the Australian Navy to replace its Adelaide-class frigates and restore the capability of old Perth-class destroyers.

The new ships will also operate in anti-surface, anti-submarine and gunfire support roles, according to published reports.