Lockheed to upgrade Army Battle Command System

Lockheed Martin Corp. will continue developing technology that provides a virtual view of the battlefield ? including real-time information on friendly and enemy forces ? under a $36 million contract for the Army Battle Command System (ABCS) at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

ABCS is a mix of fixed and semi-fixed installations and mobile networks. Lockheed Martin's work will include design, development and integration. The agreement also calls for testing, training and field service support.

The component systems are being used on the battlefield continuously, said John Mengucci, president of Mission and Combat Support Solutions at Lockheed Martin's Information Systems and Global Services division. The additional work will ensure that access to real-time operations and intelligence data remains constant for warfighters, he added.

Lockheed Martin has supported the system since 1994, company officials said.

ABCS links 11 systems, including those that monitor the ability to modernize and train forces in peacetime while planning to mobilize and sustain them in wartime to accomplish assigned missions.

In addition to providing commanders with a common operational picture, ABCS tracks friendly forces, analyzes enemy situations, and provides battle planning, fire support coordination and airspace coordination.

Lockheed Martin, of Bethesda, Md., ranks No. 1 on Washington Technology's 2008 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.