Lockheed enters next phase of National Cyber Range project

Lockheed Martin Corp. will begin to implement Phase II of an Army program to develop the National Cyber Range (NCR) under an $8,121,044 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.

Phase II will build on the preliminary design created in Phase I, culminating in the completion of a working prototype that demonstrates the capabilities of the NCR, according to a Jan. 12 Defense Department announcement.

The NCR program is a research and development testbed aimed at accelerating the deployment of new cybersecurity systems, a key part of the interagency Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), launched in 2008.

CNCI, which will be managed by the Homeland Security Department, will be the central coordinating office for all government cybersecurity organizations and development efforts.

Upon completion of all phases, it is anticipated that the NCR will revolutionize the nation’s ability to conduct cyber operations by providing a persistent cyber range, the announcement said.

Lockheed’s Simulation, Training and Support unit will perform the work mainly in Orlando, Fla.; Salt Lake City; Minneapolis; Cherry Hill, Piscataway and Princeton, N.J.; and Hanover and Columbia, Md.

The estimated completion date is April 14, 2011.

The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin, of Bethesda, Md., ranks No. 1 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.