Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control was awarded a $47 million contract by the Aeronautical Systems Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. for the System Design and Development Phase of the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) program.

Last Friday, the U.S. Air Force announced Lockheed Martin as one of two companies downselected in the SDB competition. Boeing was also awarded a contract.

Small Diameter Bomb is a precision-guided munition that will enable U.S. Air Force fighters and bombers to attack more targets with fewer planes. The contract is for a two-year competitive program to develop the company's design for the bomb and carriage system. After two years, the Air Force will select one contractor to continue with development, test and production.

"We are extremely pleased to be selected for this program," said Larry Lawson, vice president of Strike Weapons for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We have designed a system that meets or exceeds all the Air Force's requirements. It provides the warfighter with significantly increased strike capability by allowing them to put more bombs on the target with fewer planes. At the same time, this win enables us to prove our technology in the miniature munitions market."

The Lockheed Martin SDB is designed for use on the F-15, F-16, F-22, F- 117, Joint Strike Fighter, A-10, B-1, B-2, and B-52 aircraft as well as the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle. In developing its advanced concepts for SDB, Missiles and Fire Control drew upon its considerable experience in other strike weapon programs such as the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD).

Employing more than 8,500 people, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with additional base operations in Orlando, Fla., and manufacturing and assembly facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif., Chelmsford, Mass., Camden, Ark., Horizon City and Lufkin, Texas, Ocala, Fla., White Sands Missile Range, N.M., and Troy, Ala. The company is a business unit of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Bethesda, Md.

For information on Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, visit: http://www.missilesandfirecontrol.com/

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

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X64814390

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control