The Washington Business Journal:
Lockheed Martin Corp. CEO Marillyn Hewson says she sees “upward of 15 to 20 countries” as potential future customers for the company’s Medium Extended Air Defense System.
The comments were made Wednesday before investors at Bernstein’s Strategic Decisions Conference and followed statements from Hewson that Poland “is revisiting their decision on their missile defense system” and could choose MEADS, reaffirming remarks she made in March.
The platform is a mobile, 360-degree air and missile defense system used to thwart both short-range and medium-range ballistic missile threats. MEADS began as a joint transatlantic development program among the U.S., Germany and Italy.
Germany became the first foreign customer for the missile system in June 2015 when the German Federal Ministry of Defence announced it would replace its Patriot air defense systems with the new Lockheed platform. Hewson said she hopes Lockheed (NYSE: LMT) will get on contract for this program in Germany this year.
Germany will be crucial for the success of the program on an international stage, Hewson said.
