Lockheed Martin received a $131.7 million funding increment to continue its leadership of the Battle Management/Command and Control/Communication (BM/C2/C) program for the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Missile Defense National Team.

The contract runs through December of 2003 and funds the team's efforts to devise and field an operational structure that seamlessly and effectively links the numerous sensors, weapons and command and control systems currently utilized in the individual U.S. missile defense programs, or elements. Other BM/C2/C team members include TRW, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and Raytheon. In addition to leading the National Team's BM/C2/C program, Lockheed Martin serves as a member of the Systems Engineering and Integration team.

David Kier, Lockheed Martin Vice President - Missile Defense, said, "We are moving forward with our efforts to enable all of the U.S. missile defense elements currently in development and production to operate as a single seamless system capable of defending the United States as well as deployed U.S. troops and allies. The fully integrated approach advocated by the Missile Defense Agency will provide multiple layers of defense in a coordinated, cost-effective manner."

The Missile Defense National Team was created by Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish in January 2002 to bring together the best engineers and scientists in America. The team is focused on enabling the U.S. military services to field missile defense elements of the overall Ballistic Missile Defense System as soon as practical; developing and testing technologies; and improving the effectiveness of deployed capabilities by inserting new technologies as they become available.

"This is a bold, new approach to missile defense. Lockheed Martin is committed to delivering MDA's vision of an effective, integrated, layered missile defense, capable of defeating all ranges of threats," Kier said.

Since receiving its initial contract and funding of $23 million in February 2002, the BM/C2/C team has built a staff of approximately 130 individuals, drawn from the six member companies, and has identified capabilities to be developed and deployed for an initial block deployment in 2004. "We are fortunate to have assembled the best and brightest minds from American industry to work as members of a team on this vitally important national project," Kier said.

Lockheed Martin is a global leader in missile defense solutions and technologies designed to defend against attacks by ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other airborne threats. The Corporation contributes to every U.S. land-based, airborne, naval and space-based missile defense initiative, and consults on air and missile defense issues with U.S. and international governments. 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.

For more information on Lockheed Martin's missile defense capabilities and programs go to: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/spotlight/missiledefense/missiledefense.html.

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

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin