LOCKHEED MARTIN BIDS FOR WATCHKEEPER THE ‘SPY IN THE SKY’     

14 February 2002

Havant, United Kingdom, 14 February 2002 - Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems, part of Lockheed Martin UK, is one of four companies working on the assessment study phase of the British Army's revolutionary new WATCHKEEPER programme. The MOD announced today that it is about to invite bids for the forthcoming risk reduction phase of the programme.

WATCHKEEPER will use unmanned air vehicles, equipped with powerful, all weather sensors, to gather real-time imagery from behind enemy lines, and relay it to ground stations where critical intelligence will be extracted. Already used successfully by the US in Afghanistan , these systems are set to revolutionise warfare by providing critical information to commanders on the ground, without putting aircrew in harm's way.

The Lockheed Martin team operating from the Company's new and expanded site at Langstone Technology Park , includes technical experts from other Lockheed Martin units in the UK and the US , together with staff from key partner companies Insys and QinetiQ.

Many system options have been examined during the assessment study phase, and the Lockheed Martin team is now focused on refining the design of its preferred solution, in order to complete the study work and bid for the next phase of the programme. If selected for the risk reduction phase, the team will concentrate on a rigorous 12-month validation exercise in order to build customer confidence in its solution. Contract award for this phase is expected before the end of 2002.

Ron Christenson, Group Managing Director of Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems, said: "WATCHKEEPER is a very exciting opportunity for us; it's a key part of our growing focus on what we call information-centric warfare. Technically, many of the challenges are similar to those we have encountered on the Co-operative Engagement Capability and Soothsayer programmes. Taken together, these programmes, and others like them, are going to transform UK military capabilities in the coming years and we aim to play a central role in that transformation, by leveraging our technical base here and in the US".

Already a major employer in the Havant area, Lockheed Martin can expect further growth if it wins the final lucrative production and support contracts which lie ahead for WATCHKEEPER, thus creating and sustaining many hundreds of high tech jobs in the area for years to come.

Contact:
Christopher Trippick, Tel: +44 (023) 9244 3739 chris.trippick@lmco.com