The new facility will serve to conduct development, testing, and system integration for the nation’s next long-range ballistic missile defence interceptor
Lockheed Martin has opened a new ā¬15 ($16.5) million Missile System Integration Lab (MSIL) at its Huntsville (Alabama, US) campus, introducing more capabilities for missile defence innovation.
In the new Lab, Lockheed Martin plans to conduct development, testing, and system integration for the nation’s next long-range ballistic missile defence interceptor ā the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) programme for the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
The MSIL will also house a digital engineering centre and key infrastructure to create and maintain a digital thread throughout the integration process. The new lab’s concept is strengthened by Lockheed Martin’s decades of experience and expertise supporting the US missile defence mission across the product lifecycle and all phases of flight.
“This facility serves as a testbed to prove out our hardware and software integration, adding new levels of digital capability, agility and connectivity with our customers,” said Sarah Reeves, vice president of NGI at Lockheed Martin. “It is another example of Lockheed Martin’s investment in the technology and advanced facilities critical to reducing risk for our NGI program. The MSIL brings us even closer to flight testing and production of our interceptor, which will revolutionise U.S. homeland missile defence.”
The company also plans to break ground this year on two state-of-the-art facilities in Courtland, Alabama, adding missile production space and a payload manufacturing centre supporting its growing portfolio of capabilities in the state.
