Lockheed Martin awarded MAPS contracts

Lockheed Martin is to continue development of an open-architecture controller for the US Army’s Modular Active Protection System (MAPS) programme under two contracts from the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC).

The controller is being designed to process multiple sensor and self-defence systems in use on a vehicle, enabling autonomous or semi-autonomous detection and defeat of a variety of inbound threats.

Several prototypes have already been delivered to TARDEC by Lockheed Martin for evaluation under a previous contract.

The company will now continue software development for a rapid counter-measure capability that protects vehicles against incoming threats under the MAPS Demonstrator Controller Software – Phase 2 contract; and will develop a controller compliant with MAPS architecture and safety requirements under the MAPS Controller Hardware contract.

Paul Lemmo, vice president of Fire Control/SOF CLSS, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said: ‘We are developing a controller that enables the US Army to implement active protection systems that are free of the restrictions imposed by proprietary technologies. 

‘Not only does the controller provide ample processing power, but its open-architecture design allows the army to interchange sensors and self-defence systems as technology advances or new threats emerge.’