Integrated System of Systems Architecture to Facilitate Territorial/Population Defence

On 18 July at Farnborough Lockheed Martin and ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) concluded a Teaming Agreement establishing a transatlantic team to provide NATO with a territorial ballistic missile defence (BMD) command and control (C2) capability.

NATO is currently redoubling its efforts to deal with the evolving BMD threat and the Teaming Agreement brings combines the depth and breadth of decades of expertise from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, with Thales’ European air C2 capabilities. TRS will be prime contractor and system integrator for the defence solution, which will combine operational experience and components coming from different partners.  Lockheed Martin developed a BMD planning capability through its Defence Design System (DDS). Additionally, both Lockheed Martin and Raytheon bring significant expertise and experience as prime contractors for the United States’ BMD capability.

The focus of the programme is the upgrade, test and integration of NATO’s C2 systems and underlying communication network to enable effective information exchange between various NATO and national missile defence systems. This integrated system-of-systems architecture will provide NATO forces, whether deployed within or beyond NATO’s area of responsibility, with the capability to defend NATO populations and territories.

 “Lockheed Martin delivered the Defence Design System for NATO’s BMD planning capability. We will leverage that success, as well as our expertise in command and control, weapon system development and systems integration to achieve the Alliance goals [….] Lockheed’s success in delivering the C2 capability for [the] US Ballistic Missile Defence System is a result of our focus on end user needs.  We delivered a very complex C2 capability that is intuitive and effective for mission execution.  We accomplished this in partnership with Raytheon and other US companies and we look forward to delivering this capability with ThalesRaytheonSystems,” commented VP of C4ISR for Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems, Dr. Rob Smith.

“This Teaming Agreement codifies the relationship established with Lockheed Martin since 2008 to deliver NATO’s Theatre Missile Defence capability, in each operational decisive moment. It will further our collaboration to deliver the full spectrum capability the Alliance requires for territorial Ballistic Missile Defence,” added TRS CEO, Eric Marceau.

“Our companies are committed to providing the best technical and programme talent available to provide a lo- risk and operationally relevant NATO BMD capability.  We are confident that this teaming framework creates the best value for NATO and ensures delivery of a timely and effective territorial BMD capability,”  added VP of Mission Systems and Solutions at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Dave Gulla.

“The partnership between our companies in the area of tactical ballistic missiles defence has already yielded results. Those new operational command and control capabilities will enhance the protection of NATO’s populations, territory and forces against the threats posed by ballistic missiles,”  explained the Thales VP responsible for the Air Operations and Weapons System Business, Thomas Got.