Lockheed Martin marked a milestone in the Norwegian Navy New Frigate program with completion of the Critical Design Review for the Integrated Weapon System. As a result of the successful review, the Royal Norwegian Navy authorized Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems of Moorestown, N.J., and Lockheed Martin Overseas Corporation to commence detailed design of the Integrated Weapons System (IWS).

The IWS includes the full complement of ship sensors, weapons, computing suite and communications equipment designed to give the Nansen-class frigates advanced anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air capabilities. Based on the U.S. Navy's Aegis combat system, the IWS also will support interoperability of Norwegian Navy ships with those of the United States and other users of the Aegis system.

Lockheed Martin is developing the IWS for five new Norwegian frigates being built by the Spanish shipbuilder IZAR Construcciones Navales, SA. Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, IZAR will construct the new frigates at its Ferrol, Spain facility. Delivery of the first frigate is scheduled for 2005.

Also participating in the Critical Design Review was Lockheed Martin supplier Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) of Kongsberg, Norway.

Procurement of this total integrated weapon system is a first for the Royal Norwegian Navy, and the second sale of Aegis technology to a European Navy. The first sale was to the Spanish Navy for installation aboard four F 100 frigates. Employing the SPY-1F phased array radar and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile system, the Norwegian Nansen-class frigate will offer the world's most advanced anti-air warfare system on a 5,000-ton platform, which is also capable of accommodating a helicopter.

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.

IZAR, the ninth largest shipbuilding group in the world, was formed with the merger of Bazan and Astilleros Espanoles. Established in 1742, IZAR is fully dedicated to design and construction of vessels for both the Spanish Navy and the international market. IZAR can be considered as a compendium of Spain's long history of shipbuilding. IZAR is made up by four main business areas -- shipbuilding, repair and refit, propulsion and energy, and systems and weapons -- and 12 production centers with more than 11,000 employees. The company's capabilities include design and construction of diesel submarines, surface combatants, amphibious vessels, aircraft carriers, and auxiliaries.

Lockheed Martin and IZAR are teamed with General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works to form the Advanced Frigate Consortium (AFCON) to produce frigate-sized, Aegis-equipped surface combatants for international navies.

                       For more information, visit
       Lockheed Martin Corporation at http://www.lockheedmartin.com
                       IZAR at http://www.izar.es/
                    AFCON at http://www.afconships.com

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems