Lockheed Martin and Alaska Aerospace have announced that they are partnering to pursue the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment Contract.

Together, the corporations will apply their proven experience to ensure the reliability and readiness of the GMD element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System, which defends our nation, deployed military forces, friends and allies against a limited attack by intermediate- and long-range ballistic missiles.

The GMD Development and Sustainment Contract will entail development, manufacturing, test, training, operations and sustainment support.

"We are honored to welcome Alaska Aerospace to our GMD team," said Mathew J. Joyce, GMD vice president and program manager, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "Alaska Aerospace will be a key contributor to an open government-industry partnership that will ensure responsiveness and mission focus."

As a partner to Lockheed Martin, Alaska Aerospace will provide operations and maintenance support at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., where GMD Ground-based Interceptors are deployed.

"Alaska Aerospace is committed to responsive and affordable GMD operations and maintenance in partnership with Lockheed Martin," said Dale Nash, chief executive officer, Alaska Aerospace Corporation.

"We will apply our proven Kodiak Launch Complex expertise to GMD, providing consistency and transparency." Alaska Aerospace Corporation developed, owns and operates the Kodiak Launch Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska, which provides government and commercial satellite launch services and target missile launch services for missile defense testing.

"We will continue to rely upon a skilled resident workforce, which will support the needs of the Missile Defense Agency and the warfighters for responsiveness, reliability and affordability," said retired Lt. Gen. Tom Case, president and chief operating officer, Alaska Aerospace Corporation.

"Alaska Aerospace brings not only an impressive record in all aspects of launch facility operation, but also tried-and-true experience in supporting complex operations in a subarctic environment," said retired Major Gen. John W. Holly, vice president, Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

Lockheed Martin's credentials for GMD Development and Sustainment 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. Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile. The company makes significant contributions to most major U.S. missile defense systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.

The Missile Defense Agency issued an amended draft request for proposals for GMD Development and Sustainment May 14 and has announced that it will issue a final request for proposals this summer and award the contract in 2011. In addition to Fort Greely and Vandenberg Air Force Base, GMD Development and Sustainment Contract work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., and at Eareckson Air Station, Alaska.