HUNTSVILLE — Lockheed Martin has validated designs with the Missile Defense Agency for its Next Generation Interceptor, the defense contractor announced.

The system is designed to protect the U.S. against intercontinental ballistic missile threats  and has completed a series of successful, on-schedule preliminary design reviews of all its major subsystems, Lockheed Martin said.

“Lockheed Martin is making rapid progress with our NGI solution, remaining on an accelerated schedule toward flight testing,” said Sarah Reeves, vice president of the program at Lockheed Martin. “During these reviews, we took a modern and transparent approach through the use of advanced digital engineering and model-based engineering tools.

“Our NGI team will continue on-plan to demonstrate our revolutionary NGI architecture, leveraging mature technologies for high mission confidence.”

Lockheed Martin said its next-generation solution will increase warfighter capability, providing an improved defensive solution to address the complex battlespace now and in the future.

The program is on track for its next major review, the All Up Round PDR. During this review, MDA will assess if the program is ready to move forward in the acquisition process through Knowledge Point number one, and ultimately on to the critical design review.

The first Next Generation Interceptor is forecast for delivery in 2027.