Overview
- The companies signed the memorandum at the Berlin Security Conference, with Diehl CEO Helmut Rauch and Lockheed vice president Chandra Marshall as signatories.
- The effort will assess integrating IRIS‑T missiles with the Aegis Weapon System plus MK41 and MK70 vertical launchers for surface combatants.
- Lockheed Martin says successful integration would be the first incorporation of a European‑manufactured missile into the Aegis combat system.
- Diehl characterized the pact as a starting point, saying next steps are being defined and two initial projects are under consideration.
- The collaboration builds on earlier ties, including a recent Patriot supply‑chain MoU and a 2019 partnership with Saab on the Falcon air‑defense system.