LOCKHEED MARTIN PLAYS HOST TO ROYAL NAVY COMMANDER

14 February 2000

The Royal Navy Officer responsible for overseeing the introduction into service of the latest anti-submarine warfare helicopter visited Portsmouth today to brief the staff of the company responsible for delivering the aircraft. Commander Phil Shaw, awarded the MBE in the New Year's honours list for his work spearheading the trials on the Merlin programme, visited the site of Lockheed Martin at North Harbour Portsmouth.

In a speech entitled "Merlin into the Millennium"; Commander Shaw gave Lockheed Martin employees his view of the current progress being made to introduce Merlin into full operational service at its home base of RNAS Culdrose.

Following Commander Shaw's presentation, Lockheed Martin Subcontract Programme Manager Mike Dunlop said "all of us here at Lockheed Martin are very proud of what we have created in Merlin. So it has been great to hear from our customer the high points as well as the areas in which we have to focus our energies to make sure Merlin fulfils its potential."

Merlin will provide the Royal Navy with an unmatched anti-submarine warfare capability. Recent trials carried out on the system have demonstrated Merlin's awesome ability to detect and hunt submarines.

Merlin production is now in full swing at the site of Lockheed Martin's principal subcontractor GKN Westland Helicopters of Yeovil, with the 21st aircraft due for delivery in March.

Lockheed Martin was selected as Prime Contractor for the 2 Billion-Pound programme in 1991 and is under contract to MOD to deliver 44 Merlin Systems.

In addition to the company's role as Prime Contractor, Lockheed Martin is also responsible for the full integration of the many complex mission systems that comprise Merlin. These include Active Dipping Sonar, Radar, Data Link, Electronic Support Measures and the Data Collection Device.

Lockheed Martin is heading up an International Team of companies including GKN Westland Helicopters, Racal, Computing Devices Company, Rolls Royce, Thompson Marconi Sonar and several BAe Systems Companies.

For further information, please contact:

Chris Trippick
Communications and PR Programme Manager
Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems
PO Box 41 North Harbour
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO6 3AU

Tel: (023) 9256 4197 Email: chris.trippick@lmco.com