Lockheed deploys new air surveillance system

Lockheed Martin Corp. has delivered the first major component of the Integrated Space Command and Control system to the U.S. Strategic Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, the company said.

The 15-year, $1.5 billion ISC2 modernization project will integrate about 40 separate systems under the Combatant Commanders' Integrated C2 System architecture. The new architecture is designed to be an open, standards-based framework for sharing data across systems, sensors and services.

The new component, known as the Air Mission Release 1, is the first set of systems to be integrated under the architecture. The system will monitor skies over North America and integrate data from regional air operations centers and air defense sector sensors.

"We've replaced 40-year-old legacy hardware with a network-centric, modern system architecture that will consolidate air, missile and space data into a single common operational picture," said John James, Lockheed Martin's vice president of joint C2 and communications systems. "For the first time ever, NORAD has a fully integrated, real-time picture of North American airspace, and expanded interoperability with joint forces worldwide to gather information or coordinate action."

Air Mission Release 1 takes over for the legacy Granite Sentry surveillance and warning system within Cheyenne Mountain, NORAD's headquarters.

Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin ranked No. 1 on Washington Technology's 2003 Top 100 list, which measures federal contracting revenue.