LOCKHEED MARTIN ANNOUNCES A FIRST WITH UK PARTNERS

30 June 1999

New Facility Christened in Taunton, England, first System Delivered.

TAUNTON, England, ORLANDO, Florida, June 30, 1999 -- For the first time in the nearly 20-year production history of Lockheed Martin’s complex TADS/PNVS sensor, an overseas facility has taken the helm to integrate and assemble the system designated for the UK Apache helicopter. With the formal christening on June 24 of the Taunton Integration Facility (TIF) in Taunton, England (a team effort between Lockheed Martin and Avimo Limited), the UK Apache team delivered the first TADS/PNVS system integrated in the UK to GKN Westland Helicopters, Ltd. On hand with Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles representatives were officials of UK teammates, Avimo Limited, Pilkington Optronics, and British Aerospace (BAe) Defence Systems, along with prime contractor, GKN Westland Helicopters, Ltd., the UK Ministry of Defence, and other government representatives.

Nearly 100 new jobs have been created so far within the UK partner companies in Taunton, Ilford, and Glasgow as a result of Lockheed Martin’s technology transfer. In addition, Lockheed Martin plans to keep several key individuals on-site in the UK to continue support of this effort.

“Today’s activities herald the success of transatlantic cooperation by Lockheed Martin, Avimo Limited, Pilkington Optronics, and BAe Defence Systems to establish the UK capability and deliver to GKN Westland Helicopters the most advanced electro-optics targeting system for rotary wing aircraft in the world,” explained Fred Marion, vice president, Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles. “In one of the largest transfers of technology executed by Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles, the success of this effort, in just three short years, can be a model for endeavors in other countries and with other international partners,” Marion said. “One of the reasons for success is that we looked at all the processes and procedures of each company and used the best of the best on this program,” commented Bryan Butler, director of the UK Apache TADS/PNVS program at Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles. “We’ve shown that we can take a very complex system, transfer the technology, and do it ahead of schedule meeting or exceeding all program commitments,” Butler added.

As a result of the unprecedented success, Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles earned GKN Westland’s 1998 “Supplier of the Year” award. “Each partner delivered their work ahead of schedule, and we had outstanding results because of the team’s commitment to excellence, open communications, and teamwork,” Marion stated.

Considered as the “eyes” of the Apache helicopter, the “Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor” (TADS/PNVS) has been built and assembled in the U.S. since its fielding in 1981. “The establishment of the Taunton Integration Facility is a first, and the magnitude of this technology transfer is unprecedented,” Butler said. “The transfer made it possible for our transatlantic partners to manufacture 19 of 26 major assemblies or Line Replaceable Units,” he added. According to Butler, Lockheed Martin shared approximately 8,000 drawings, various test procedures, calibration methods, manufacturing plans, management practices, and on-site training to ensure that complex subassemblies would be successfully replicated at factories of the UK partners.

Westland Helicopters was awarded a contract in March 1996 by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) for 67 Apache D-model helicopters, designated WAH-64. The in-service date occurs with delivery of the ninth aircraft in December 2000. The first WAH-64 has arrived in the UK and is currently undergoing ground tests at the GKN Westland facility.

Under the UK contract, components built by Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles and UK partner companies – Avimo, Pilkington Optronics, and BAe – will now be assembled at the TIF on Avimo property. Once integrated, the complete TADS/PNVS system will be delivered to GKN Westland Helicopters, Ltd., in Yeovil, England (approximately 30 miles from Taunton), where it will be mounted on the nose of WAH-64 helicopters to be built at Westland.

Avimo Ltd. manufactures the PNVS, shrouds, boresight assembly, and optical relay tube. The TADS/PNVS work added significant core business to Avimo, positioning the company for strategic growth and expanded Avimo’s system integration capability. Pilkington Optronics in Glasgow is responsible for the laser designator. British Aerospace Defence Systems (BAe) is responsible for the manufacture of seven major electronic units. BAe has also produced the full complement of tooling and test equipment for the TIF and the Maintenance Depot. The TADS/PNVS transatlantic teaming initiative helped develop this state-of-the-art manufacturing capability and expanded design capability as well as the ability to build complex special test equipment at BAe.