Lockheed Martin Delivers New C2BMC Software Upgrade To US Military

Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday that it has delivered a command control battle management and communications (C2BMC) software upgrade for the US Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center (MDIOC).

The software, Spiral 8.2 represents more than two million lines of software code, which will upgrade the sensor to the shooter configuration. This will enable better debris mitigation and phase cueing, and improve situational awareness.

Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions C4ISR vice-president Rob Smith said: "With the growing volatility and unrest across the world, maintaining advanced missile defense is imperative to our nation's security.

"Delivering this latest upgrade to the MDA for testing two months ahead of schedule underscores our commitment to ensure that C2BMC remains at the core of our nation's strong ballistic missile defense capability."

The upgrade is expected to improve the integration of allied systems and information flow, with secure network communications for individual sensors and weapon elements and high-availability connectivity, allowing faster information sharing across the global ballistic missile defense system.

Additional benefits include a reduction in hardware equipment racks by up to 60%, which will significantly lower power and cooling requirements, and eventually lifecycle costs.

Following completion of cycle two testing by the MDIOC, the Spiral 8.2 software will enter operational and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

The missile defense national team is a partnership between Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics and approximately 20 other smaller companies with expertise in key areas.

Integrating globally deployed sensors, radars, satellites and interceptors into a unified network, C2BMC provides commanders with a reliable, flexible and real-time capability to plan, monitor and manage US defenses, deployed forces and allies against all ranges of ballistic missile threats in all regions and in any phase of flight.

Supported by more than 48,000m of Defense Information Systems Agency communication lines, the system operates 24/7 over 17 time zones, and is currently used in 33 locations, including the US Strategic, Northern, European, Pacific, and Central Commands.