Lockheed Martin announced today that it has been awarded a $446 million contract by Newport News Shipbuilding to develop the Integrated Warfare System (IWS) that will pave the way to the next generation of aircraft carriers. The contract has an additional $40 million option for added scope. This award marks Lockheed Martin's strong entry into the nuclear aircraft carrier market. The lead company for this contract is Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems-Surface Systems (NE&SS-SS), which will apply its expertise in integrating diverse systems into a single, open-architecture, scaleable weapon system based on off-the-shelf computer technologies.

Joseph D. Antinucci, president, Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems, commented, "We are excited to partner with Newport News Shipbuilding and to be the first to bring total warfare systems integration to U.S. aircraft carriers. We are looking forward to providing the warfare system design that will take the Navy to the next generation of aircraft carriers."

Fred P. Moosally, president, Lockheed Martin NE&SS-Surface Systems, added, "The integration and delivery of the CVN 77 warfare system is the first time individual systems such as sensors, command and control and self defense functionality will be available over a commercial information infrastructure in a U.S. aircraft carrier. Through our Open Business Model(TM)* process we can apply the most advanced technologies available at the lowest cost throughout the design, development and production phases."

Newport News Shipbuilding will be able to deliver the latest in technology to its Navy customer because Lockheed Martin will integrate all onboard warfare decision centers, eliminate stove pipe systems, and provide a design that supports cost-effective upgrades over the 50 year life of the ship.

The as-yet unnamed CVN 77 will be the transition ship from the current Nimitz Class aircraft carriers to the next class of carriers, termed CVN(X).

Lockheed Martin's systems engineering, development and integration work will be performed primarily in the new Virginia Advanced Ship and Carrier Integration Center (VASCIC), that will open this summer adjacent to Newport News Shipbuilding.

Best known for designing, building, and integrating the Aegis Weapon System into U.S. destroyers and cruisers, Lockheed Martin NE&SS-Surface Systems has designed a number of fully integrated, complex systems for other classes of surface ships. Core competencies include radar and RF sensors, command and control systems including C4ISR systems, shipwide integrated computing infrastructures and integrated topside designs. It is one of five major lines of business comprising the Lockheed Martin NE&SS business segment, which serves surface ship and submarine customers worldwide. NE&SS is an operating segment of the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration business area.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin Systems Integration is one of four principal business areas within the Lockheed Martin Corporation. The other business areas are Aeronautics, Space and Technology Services.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ .

For information on Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems visit: http://ness.external.lmco.com/ .

For additional information on NE&SS-Surface Systems, visit: http://ness.external.lmco.com/nessm .

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin