Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, a business area of Lockheed Martin Corporation , will propose a newly manufactured P-3C for the joint Germany and Italy Maritime Patrol Aircraft Replacement (MPA-R) program in the company's bid that will be submitted tomorrow, Friday, July 26. Accepted as the world standard for maritime patrol aircraft, the company's new production P-3 will join a fleet of more then 450 P-3s operated worldwide by 16 countries.

"Lockheed Martin's solution to the MPA-R requirement will continue our 60 years of leadership in fixed wing Maritime Patrol innovation," said Jack Crisler, Lockheed Martin's director of international Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) pursuits. "Our team will consist of worldwide leaders in surface and subsurface surveillance and detection systems."

The Germany/Italy MPA-R calls for 10 aircraft for Germany and 14 for Italy and has an estimated value of more than $3 billion.

The new P-3C aircraft Lockheed Martin is proposing will have several reliability and maintainability improvements including new corrosion resistant materials in the wings and performance enhancements to the T56-14 engine. The mission system will combine elements of the Avionics Improvement Program (AIP) and the Block Modification Upgrade Program (BMUP) configurations developed by Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems in Eagan, Minn. Final assembly for the new P-3Cs would be planned for Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Ga., USA facility.

"Germany and Italy, as well as other potential customers, will benefit from the continuous improvement and investment in systems upgrades that have been integrated by the worldwide P-3 community," added Crisler. "This provides interoperability with both US and international operators."

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, 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, F-35 JSF, F-117, T-50, C-5, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-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