Lockheed Upgrading Radar Systems for Hypersonic Threats.

• Author: Tadjdeh, Yasmin
• Position: News Briefs

MOORESTOWN, N.J. -- Lockheed Martin is working to upgrade its radar systems to detect emerging threats such as hypersonic weapons and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles, executives recently said.

The U.S. military faces not only asymmetric threats--as characterized by warfare fought in Afghanistan and Iraq--but those from near-peer competitors such as Russia and China, said Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's integrated warfare systems and sensors division.

"We're really working throughout our portfolio to help our customers deal with all of those," he said during a media briefing at Lockheed's Moorestown, New Jersey, facility.

The company is currently working on upgrades to its Aegis advanced combat system, which is used extensively by the U.S. Navy as well as international partners. They include a powerful radar system to track and counter hypersonic missiles, he noted.

Jim Sheridan, Lockheed's director of Aegis U.S. Navy programs, said the company recently conducted an experiment focusing on hypersonics. "The results were very promising," he said, while keeping specific details close to the vest. The company focused on defensive capabilities, Sheridan added.

Tony DeSimone, chief engineer at Lockheed's integrated warfare systems and sensors division, said the company writ large...