Enhancing the Battlefield: PAC-3 and Mission Integration
On the Inside: How Angel Engineers Systems That Talk
Angel credits his father’s influence on his career. When Angel was a kid, he accompanied his dad going to construction jobs over the summer. Watching and talking to his dad, a house framer, showed Angel that he could be the person designing the blueprints for these projects. That stuck with him.
“It motivated me in school, and then I found my way into engineering.”
Angel is a staff guidance, navigation and controls engineer at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. He works as a technical adviser for the PAC-3 missile segment's integration into the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) system. This role requires the PAC-3 system integrating seamlessly with other programs and technology.
This process is what Lockheed Martin calls Mission Integration. Modern forces need Mission Integration—a way platforms, networks and people can remain united to deliver on a mission. This is the key to strengthening deterrence and staying ahead of potential threats.
Connecting the Dots: How Mission Integration Streamlines Decision-Making
Angel sees his work similar to solving a puzzle, each piece can fit perfectly to create one picture. He explains Mission Integration connects the dots with different systems to all go optimally together.
“If I have 10, 15 or 20 people talking to me at once, I don’t understand anything they are saying. Similarly, if I have tons of data popping up on the screen, it’s too distracting. Mission Integration only shows the operator and the soldier what is really critical.”
Integration is crucial for complex operations because of the flexibility it brings to various capabilities without having to redesign components and start from scratch.
Battlefield Resilience
When a soldier has multiple systems in place, the risk of failure is exponentially less. This safety net means the overall resilience of the battlefield is enhanced.
Systems like the PAC-3 solves real-world problems defending critical assets for the U.S. Army and its allies. PAC-3 is reliable and has been proven to integrate successfully. For example, the THAAD Weapon System successfully integrated and launched a PAC-3 MSE to intercept a tactical ballistic missile target using proven Hit-to-Kill technology. With this successful demonstration, the THAAD Weapon System can now be deployed anywhere with minimal Patriot equipment required.
This integration further exemplifies Lockheed Martin’s commitment to building a layered and networked missile defense system that enables joint all-domain operations. The result: expanded 21st Century Security® solutions that give the warfighter more options with existing equipment, allowing them to choose the best interceptor for any threat they face.
Opportunities for Innovation
Angel’s career has spanned from a systems engineer on PAC-3 launcher integration into IBCS, to simulation development and eventually to become a technical lead.
He chose Lockheed Martin because of the company’s critical nature and commitment to delivering the best systems to its customers. Angels’s motivation for having a fulfilled eight-year career at Lockheed Martin has been its mission to keep the warfighter safe.
“I choose to stay at Lockheed Martin because I’m technically challenged every day of my career here.”