Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, a business area of Lockheed Martin Corporation , has proposed a fully modernized, new production aircraft for Phase I of the U.S. Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) Component Advanced Development (CAD) program. This proposal is the first step towards replacing the U.S. Navy's existing fleet of P-3C and EP-3E aircraft. The CAD Phase I contract is expected to be awarded by early June.

"Our MMA solution leverages the P-3's proven capabilities in a modernized, new-production aircraft with a state-of-the-art mission system that's fully transformational as new technologies evolve," said Lockheed Martin CAD Program Manager, Ray Burick. "We'll use our experience with $35 billion of US Government investment in programs like JSF, F-22, F-16, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and others, to deliver an aircraft that's affordable and fully missionized."

The MMA CAD Industry Phase I is a six-month effort that will result in the Navy choosing 2-3 preferred concepts to be carried forward into CAD Phase II. These concepts will then be further refined and will form the basis of competitive proposals for a single contract award for MMA System Development and Demonstration (SDD), expected in early 2004.

Lockheed Martin's MMA CAD trade study baseline concept (TSBC) is a modern weapon system consisting of three primary elements: a new-production, armed maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft derived from the proven P-3 Orion; a state-of-art mission system that meets all MMA mission requirements today and has inherent capability to evolve, via spiral development to meet future mission demands; and an integrated support system providing high availability at significantly reduced operation and support (O&S) costs.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and is a leader in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F-22, JSF, F-117, C-5, C-27J, C-130, P-3, and U-2.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corp., 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. Employing about 125,000 people worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 2001 sales of $24 billion.

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

For information on Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, visit: http://www.lmaeronautics.com/

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company