To build on its world-class capabilities in navigation and to meet customer needs, Lockheed Martin has established a new business unit within its Space Systems Company. This new Navigation Systems business unit will direct the company's efforts as it pursues new business opportunities in the space-based navigation systems marketplace.

In addition to pursuing opportunities to develop the third generation Global Positioning System (GPSIII) and Global Multi-Mission Service Platform (GMSP), the new business unit will provide a new level of corporate commitment to the development of systems required to meet the rapidly expanding needs in this market and its customers.

"Our objective is to enable a total systems integration approach, bringing together the best resources of Lockheed Martin and industry to meet the requirements of our customers," said Albert E. Smith, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

Stanton D. Sloane, currently the executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Management and Data Systems, will lead the new business unit. Sloane will be responsible for the overall strategy development, strategic teaming decisions and implementation of our pursuits of space based navigation systems. The new business unit will also have access to corporate-wide resources and support including Lockheed Martin's System Integration and Air Traffic Management organizations.

"Stan has extensive leadership experience within Lockheed Martin in systems integration, program management and business management that is necessary to implement total system solutions to ensure customer needs and requirements are met," Smith said.

Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, the Navigation Systems business unit will be responsible for the GPS III architecture study, the GPS-IIR program and the GPS III CAD (Component Advanced Development) development activities. It will also include the broader functional areas of system of systems architecture and engineering, network architecture, and user applications.

Lockheed Martin has been a leading architect of systems of systems development for the past 50 years. Today, the company is the nation's provider of GPS IIR satellites and is the largest provider of GPS enabled weapons as well as a major participant on the GPS ground Operational Control Segment. For GPS III, the company has leveraged its extensive experience on the GPS IIR program and enlisted experts from industry, academia and the international community to define best value architectures for this critically needed system.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin (http://www.lockheedmartin.com/) is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced- technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics, and technology.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin