Lockheed Martin has taken the next steps toward assuring continuity for Army war fighters, as its team prepares to bid for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment contract.

Raytheon's Reid Davis has been appointed deputy program manager for the Lockheed Martin-Raytheon GMD team. Orbital Sciences Corporation has joined the team as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the GMD Orbital Boost Vehicle, and Northrop Grumman has joined the team as an OEM for the GMD Fire Control and Communications.

"Having a Raytheon manager in this key position fully leverages our strategic partnership with Raytheon Missile Systems, a critical GMD OEM with whom we have a successful combined track record on a host of missile defense programs," said Mathew J. Joyce, GMD vice president and program manager, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

"I am honored to be a part of this GMD Development and Sustainment effort," said Davis. "I have worked with Lockheed Martin on programs such as Navy Theater Wide and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense. Together we make a proven team."

Davis, most recently Raytheon's manager of air and missile defense programs, will support Joyce in all facets of program execution. Raytheon, the GMD Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle developer, will provide systems engineering, development, modeling and simulation, manufacturing, testing, training, and operations and sustainment as a strategic partner to Lockheed Martin.

The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon team includes seven OEMs with the addition of Orbital Sciences and Northrop Grumman Information Systems. "Orbital Sciences, the OEM for the GMD Orbital Boost Vehicle, contributes important expertise to our team that will support a smooth transition," said Joyce.

"As an OEM for the GMD Fire Control and Communications, Northrop Grumman brings key capabilities to our team that will support war fighter readiness and service continuity."

Other OEMs on the team are: ATK Aerospace Systems, manufacturing, maintenance and sustainment support of the Ground-based Interceptor; Bechtel National Inc., engineering support for operations, maintenance and upgrades of launch site components and schedule integration for the operational asset management system; Dynetics Inc., cyber support training and systems engineering, including information assurance, modeling and simulation, system analysis, and ground and flight test support and training; and Harris Corporation, maintenance and sustainment of the In-Flight Interceptor Communications System Data Terminal.

"Our entire best-of-industry team provides the expertise needed to respond to the government's requirements for this critical national system," said Joyce.

Quadrus Corporation also has joined the team and will provide software, systems, testing and integration engineering services. Other partners providing crucial capabilities include Alaska Aerospace Corporation, ARES Corporation, CohesionForce Inc., Imprimis Inc., IroquoiSystems Inc., NANA Development Corporation, Oregon Iron Works Inc., QuantiTech Inc. and TDX Power Inc.

With support from its strategic partner and partner companies, Lockheed Martin, as prime contractor and systems integrator, will perform work at all major GMD sites: Huntsville, where the company's program office will be headquartered; Fort Greely, Alaska; Eareckson Air Station, Alaska; Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

The Missile Defense Agency announced that it will issue a final request for proposals for GMD Development and Sustainment this year and award the contract in 2011.

The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon team will apply proven experience to ensure the reliability and readiness of the GMD element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System, which protects the nation, our allies and friends against limited ballistic missile attack.

Strategic partners Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have developed systems that combined have achieved more than 50 intercepts in testing and combat - more than any other team.

The team's credentials include more than 30 years of experience in missile defense development, production, testing and fielding, more than 50 years of experience in strategic weapon system operations and sustainment, and award-winning performance-based logistics expertise.