The U.S. Air Force has selected the Lockheed Martin team to modernize its air, missile and space command and control (C2) systems in a program valued at approximately $1.5 billion.

Under the 15-year, Integrated Space Command and Control (ISC2) program, Lockheed Martin and its teammates will integrate approximately 40 systems into a common, interoperable C2 information technology infrastructure, giving commanders at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) and new flexibility to handle growing mission responsibilities. ISC2 will be a "virtual command center," providing warfighters a common operational picture of the global battlefield derived from shared, real-time data, that is available anytime and to any location in the world for specified users.

The ISC2 modernization replaces the Air Force's collection of older, stand-alone systems, which function well individually, but are not seamlessly coordinated to give users comprehensive C2 capabilities and access to information. ISC2 will dramatically improve interoperability among air, missile and space defense systems, allowing information and data to be shared among those and other C2 systems. Commanders will have enhanced capability that synchronizes their C2 operations, providing for faster response to enemy actions and improved strategic and tactical coordination among forces.

"ISC2 represents a major leap forward in information superiority to secure our nation's defense," said Robert Coutts, Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin's Systems Integration Business Area. "Our team members have supplied many of the legacy defense systems that are part of ISC2, and this knowledge makes us uniquely qualified to direct the modernization and integration. We understand the Air Force's vision for ISC2, we share that vision, and we are committed as a team to making that vision a reality.

"ISC2 will be a collaborative, distributed command and control system for battle management, providing tighter coordination of forces and unparalleled information support to warfighters," added Terry Drabant, President, Lockheed Martin Mission Systems, which is leading the ISC2 team. "We have the people and facilities in place, and are ready to ramp-up immediately to perform on this contract."

One of the key program challenges will be to migrate existing defense systems to the new ISC2 architecture without any disruption to Air Force operations at Cheyenne Mountain, where most of the NORAD and USSPACECOM systems are located. Over its 15-year cycle, the ISC2 program will also provide operations and maintenance services.

Under ISC2's competitive migration demonstration contract phase, the Lockheed Martin team has refined its architecture approach and planned the program's implementation.

The Lockheed Martin team* draws on a strategic core group of aerospace industry leaders who bring their experience as systems integrators on highly complex C2 programs central to Air Force operations. This core group -- The Boeing Co., Aerojet, General Dynamics, DynCorp and Wang Government Services -- have expertise in command and control, missile defense, global telecommunications and data fusion, and have proven track records in having managed large systems integration programs successfully.

The team also includes strong core technology partners and providers, such as Computer Sciences Corp., Logicon/INRI, and Autometric, Inc., and also new- economy "B2B" -- Business to Business electronic commerce -- leaders, such as Microsoft Corp., Cisco Systems, Oracle Corp., AT&T, Neon and BEA Systems, who bring innovation and offer expertise in highly specialized technology areas vital to the success of ISC2.

Key small and minority-owned businesses provide specialized domain knowledge and technology development skills, and include Aegis Research Corp., Xon Tech, FGM Inc., Zel Technologies, Scitor Corp., and Trawick & Associates.

A leader in mission critical systems integration and information operations, Lockheed Martin Mission Systems serves customers including U.S. and international defense and civil government agencies. Mission Systems employs approximately 2,600 at facilities in Gaithersburg, Colorado Springs, and Santa Maria, Calif., and is a business unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Work for ISC2 will be performed in Colorado Springs and will involve approximately 500 people.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin 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 services.

* The Lockheed Martin Team for ISC is comprised of these teammates, technology partners and B2B experts: ACS Defenses, Inc. (Betac Corporation); Aegis Research Corp.; Aerojet; AT&T Technical Services; Autometric, Inc.; BEA Systems, Inc.; BAE Systems (Marconi); BBN Corp. (GTE); The Boeing Company; BTG; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Computer Sciences Corp. (Nichols Research); DynCorp; FGM Inc.; Frontier Technology, Inc.; General Dynamics; GRC International Inc. (AT&T); Federated Software Group; Jaycor Inc.; Logicon/INRI; Lockheed Martin Mission Systems; Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company -- Astronautics Operations; Master Solutions; Microsoft Corp. Federal Systems; Neon Systems, Inc.; Oracle Corp.; Scitor Tech. Corp.; Sterling Software; Trawick & Associates; Veridian Trident Data Systems; Wang Government Services, Inc. -- A Getronics Company; Xon Tech, Inc.; Zel Technologies LLC.

Visit this website for background information about the ISC2 program and the Lockheed Martin team: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/isc2

For additional information, visit the company's website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

To learn more about Lockheed Martin Mission Systems, visit the website at: http://www.lmco.com/missionsystems

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin