Lockheed Martin And Oerlikon Contraves To Demonstrate Millennium Gun During Fleet Battle Experiment Juliet
Multi-mission Gun Delivers Expanded Close-in Weapon Defense
AKRON, OH, March 26th, 2002 -- Lockheed Martin, Akron, Ohio, and Oerlikon Contraves, Zurich, Switzerland, have joined forces to produce and market the rapid-fire Millennium Gun. The Millennium Gun is the only multi-mission close-in weapon system capable of engaging fast-attack surface craft and near-shore land targets in littoral and riverine waters, as well as defending against anti-ship missiles and aircraft in all environments. The gun's highly effective inner layer defense capability extends ship self-protection to ranges greater than any other close-in weapon systems. Creating a "wall of steel," the Millennium Gun fires 35-mm ammunition, including the advanced Ahead round, at 1,000 rounds per minute. Each Ahead round dispenses 152 subprojectiles that form a cone-shaped pattern. The subprojectiles destroy a target's control surfaces, seeker and other vital components as it moves through the wall of steel.
The Millennium Gun is a low-cost, unmanned, remotely controlled gun mount. It is compatible with all modern and legacy sensors and fire control systems. It fits on a number of ship classes, including such advanced designs as the U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter and the Littoral Combat Ship. Oerlikon Contraves has received expressions of interest from several navies for mounts on frigates and corvettes.
"The combined strengths of Lockheed Martin and Oerlikon Contraves across naval weapon systems design, manufacture and integration make for a formidable team," said Al Barber, general manager of Lockheed Martin in Akron. "The Millennium Gun will give navies a multimission-capable deck gun, defending against sea-skimming cruise missiles and other air threats in the open ocean and against the asymmetric threat of small surface craft in littoral and riverine waters."
Barber pointed out that the gun's kill radius varies according to the type of threat it engages. Testing has shown it to be lethal against aircraft and helicopters at 3.5 km, against cruise missiles at 2 km, and against anti-ship sea-skimming missiles at 1.5 km. These distances extend the close-in defensive perimeter and the time available for a ship to engage and destroy an imminent threat
Oerlikon President Ernst Odermatt said, "We are delighted and proud to have signed a teaming agreement with Lockheed Martin for the Millennium Gun for the U.S. marketplace and other selected markets. To be a partner with such a major naval combat systems supplier as Lockheed Martin is a significant step in the progress predicted for the Millennium Gun program and the Ahead air-burst munition."
The Millennium Gun's versatility and modularity will be demonstrated during the U.S. Navy's Fleet Battle Experiment-Juliet, scheduled for July and August 2002. Lockheed Martin's Sea SLICE, an advanced technology demonstrator vessel participating in the exercise, will be fitted with the Millennium Gun on its bow. "The exercise will highlight the gun's adaptability to fit on a number of ship classes. Its low weight, small footprint and easy loading of ammunition make it ideal for new ship construction and existing ships earmarked for modernization," Kurt Jackson, Lockheed Martin Akron business development manager, said.
Oerlikon Contraves AG (OCAG) is part of the Rheinmetall DeTec, a well-established company in the military products sector. It specializes in land and naval air defense systems and medium-caliber guns and ammunition. It has delivered more than 3,000 gun systems and over 35 countries now use its products. OCAG has subsidiaries in Italy, Germany, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore.
Lockheed Martin Akron is a business unit of Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems (NE&SS). Lockheed Martin Akron designs and develops undersea and antisubmarine weapons systems, ship defense and electronic combat systems, lighter-than-air surveillance systems, simulation and training systems, digital image processing systems, and guidance systems.
NE&SS is comprised of five major lines of business and provides surface ship and submarine weapon systems, antisubmarine warfare and ocean surveillance systems, missile launching systems, radar and sensor systems, ship systems integration services and other advanced systems and services to customers worldwide. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is headquartered in Bethesda, Md.
Cary J. Dell
Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems-Radar Systems
1210 Massillon Road
Akron, Ohio 44315
330.796.8458 (tel), 330.796.3274 (fax), cary.j.dell@lmco.com
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
