In the latter part of 2023, a team of Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy technical experts began analyzing data from engagements in the Red Sea, where Aegis-equipped ships were tasked with defending civilian vessels from attacks. The goal? To enhance the fleet's ability to counter drones and missiles in the region.

This diligent work and investments paid off, as Navy destroyers in the Red Sea successfully received capability advancements in early 2024 to counter missiles and other unique threats in the region. Thanks to these advancements to the Aegis system, the capability upgrades were developed, tested and installed significantly faster than before.

In a world where adversarial technology is evolving as fast as that of deterrence forces, integrated systems like Aegis ensure the Navy always stays ahead.

The Aegis Combat System rapidly meets evolving defense and deterrence challenges because it is built as an integrated system.

Integration ensures multiple solutions work together seamlessly to accomplish a common goal. The Aegis Combat System layers a diverse set of naval and joint systems, including weapons, sensors, command and control (C2), and combat management. This variety enables better coordination and increases the capacity of Aegis and the warfighter.

As seen in the Red Sea this year, the Aegis “Speed to Capability” process allows mission critical capability updates to be rapidly fielded to the fleet instead of waiting for the next major baseline upgrade to the combat system software.

This helps reduce the time it takes to produce updates from months to days, and eventually hours.
 

The Aegis Combat System allows operators to manage and coordinate the defense network with improved situational awareness and enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability.
 

Sensors allow the naval fleet to detect, track and engage targets. For the U.S. Navy, the Aegis Combat System relies on the AN/SPY-1 advanced sensor. The SPY-1 radar is a key component of this system, serving as the primary phased-array radar for target detection, tracking, and engagement.
 

The Aegis Combat System is equipped with numerous weapons to counter air and missile threats.

One of Lockheed Martin’s latest technology investments is the integration of PAC-3 MSE into the Aegis Weapon System and MK41 Vertical Launching System to increase the capability and capacity of U.S. Navy Aegis ships. The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) proved during an initial flight test conducted ashore, that it could defend against a cruise missile threat, which could help the U.S. Navy address key capability and capacity gaps.

As new threats and technologies emerge, the Aegis Combat System continues to evolve, ensuring the U.S. Navy has 21^st Century Security.