The Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center awarded a $51.2 million contract on Aug. 3, 2020, to Lockheed Martin to architect, design, develop, integrate, test, and validate the Geosynchronous (GEO) Non-Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment (ITWAA) Ops Migration to Enterprise Ground Services (EGS) (GNOME) mission software onto the next-generation Enterprise Ground System (EGS).
Lockheed Martin has worked in tandem with the U.S. military as its lead missile warning mission integrator for the past 20 years. The company has designed and launched four SBIRS GEO missile warning satellites; is modernizing the design of the SBIRS GEO 5/6 spacecraft to provide more resiliency and efficiency; is developing Block 0 of the Next Generation OPIR GEO missile warning satellites, and has served as lead sustainment and operations contractor.
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the Space Force’s Next Gen OPIR Block 0 GEO satellites, which will provide improved missile warning capabilities that are more survivable and resilient against emerging threats. The U.S. Department of the Air Force implemented Next Gen OPIR as a rapid acquisition program in 2018. Lockheed Martin recently completed successful preliminary design reviews for two potential advanced sensor payload providers for the new system as well as successfully completing a similar review of on-ground systems.
Lockheed Martin has committed to putting a defensive laser weapon on an aircraft within five years.
Its Tactical Airborne Laser Weapon System would be used to shoot down incoming tactical missiles, for instance, air-to-air missiles or surface-to-air missiles.
Lockheed is bullish on the podded laser technology and is already investing in production capacity, it says.
“We’re making capital investments to be ready to manufacture key high-energy laser components at full-production rates and low cost. We’re investing over $20 million in our Orlando-based optical component center to expand the manufacturing footprint by 40%,” says Mark Stephen, leader of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s strategic technology development efforts.
Lockheed says it is building on its role developing a high-power fiber laser for the US Air Force Research Laboratory’s self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program. That effort aimed to put a compact laser on a fighter aircraft by 2021 but has been delayed until 2023 due to technical problems.
Nonetheless, Lockheed is optimistic about the technology and is working to push forward a separate effort.
“We would look at transitioning the capabilities from SHiELD into a laser pod with improved [size, weight, and power consumption] based on the investments that we’re making,” says Stephen.
The airborne laser would also draw from the firm’s experience helping to develop the US Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser and the US Navy’s High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance effort. Both surface-to-air lasers are designed to shoot down drones or loitering munitions.
The company adds that its work developing optical sensors, such as the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, has given it the confidence to build a laser weapon that can accurately target a high-speed incoming missile.
“The Sniper pod, it has lasers inside of it that have to be maintained onto a target during high-speed maneuvers in flight,” Stephen says. “So the technology and the algorithms we’ve developed over the last 40 years on those types of electro-optical systems with laser designators in them are directly applicable from a pointing and jitter control standpoint.”
To power, the high-energy laser, a set of batteries or capacitors would be charged using the aircraft’s jet turbine.
Lockheed declines to disclose the range and firing rate of the laser, noting that such factors would depend on the target that the USAF wants to defend against.
Investors will be hoping for strength from LMT as it approaches its next earnings release.
In that report, analysts expect LMT to post earnings of $6.07 per share. This would mark a year-over-year growth of 7.24%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $16.24 billion, up 7.03% from the prior-year quarter.
LMT’s full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $24.13 per share and revenue of $64.76 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes in +9.93% and +8.28%, respectively.
Any recent changes to analyst estimate for LMT should also be noted by investors. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company’s business outlook.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
Valuation is also important, so investors should note that LMT has a Forward P/E ratio of 16.27 right now. This valuation marks a no noticeable deviation compared to its industry’s average Forward P/E of 16.27.
Also, we should mention that LMT has a PEG ratio of 2.35. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company’s expected earnings growth rate. Aerospace – Defense stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 2.35 based on yesterday’s closing prices.
Lockheed Martin has committed to putting a defensive laser weapon on an aircraft within five years.
Its Tactical Airborne Laser Weapon System would be used to shoot down incoming tactical missiles, for instance, air-to-air missiles or surface-to-air missiles.
Lockheed is bullish on the podded laser technology and is already investing in production capacity, it says.
“We’re making capital investments to be ready to manufacture key high-energy laser components at full-production rates and low cost. We’re investing over $20 million in our Orlando-based optical component center to expand the manufacturing footprint by 40%,” says Mark Stephen, leader of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s strategic technology development efforts.
Lockheed says it is building on its role developing a high-power fiber laser for the US Air Force Research Laboratory’s self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program. That effort aimed to put a compact laser on a fighter aircraft by 2021 but has been delayed until 2023 due to technical problems.
Nonetheless, Lockheed is optimistic about the technology and is working to push forward a separate effort.
“We would look at transitioning the capabilities from SHiELD into a laser pod with improved [size, weight, and power consumption] based on the investments that we’re making,” says Stephen.
The airborne laser would also draw from the firm’s experience helping to develop the US Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser and the US Navy’s High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance effort. Both surface-to-air lasers are designed to shoot down drones or loitering munitions.
The company adds that its work developing optical sensors, such as the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, has given it the confidence to build a laser weapon that can accurately target a high-speed incoming missile.
“The Sniper pod, it has lasers inside of it that have to be maintained onto a target during high-speed maneuvers in flight,” Stephen says. “So the technology and the algorithms we’ve developed over the last 40 years on those types of electro-optical systems with laser designators in them are directly applicable from a pointing and jitter control standpoint.”
To power, the high-energy laser, a set of batteries or capacitors would be charged using the aircraft’s jet turbine.
Lockheed declines to disclose the range and firing rate of the laser, noting that such factors would depend on the target that the USAF wants to defend against.
Lockheed Martin LONG (Buy)
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