Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin Corp. , was awarded a $7 million contract on Sept. 10 for Phase I of the U.S. Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) Component Advanced Development (CAD) program. The MMA program will replace the Navy's existing fleet of P-3C and EP-3E aircraft.

"The goal of the Lockheed Martin team is to offer a solution that reduces total ownership costs, increases availability and demonstrates our ability to provide a low-risk entry into SDD (System Development and Demonstration)," said Ray Burick, Lockheed Martin's MMA CAD program manager.

Rigorous system engineering and program management processes and tools will be employed to quantify and reduce system risks and to develop detailed plans and schedules for future phases of the program; these include the successful risk-management approach developed during the JSF concept demonstration program. "In addition, full-scale fatigue test data developed during the P-3 Service Life Assessment program will directly benefit the MMA platform, further reducing program risk," Burick said.

The Phase I five-month contract will provide the Navy with a variety of concepts from which two to three preferred concepts will be chosen and carried forward into CAD Phase II. These concepts then will be further refined and will form the basis of competitive proposals for a single contract award for MMA SDD, expected in early 2004.

Lockheed Martin's proposed integrated support system approach is a blend of commercial best practices and proven technologies leveraged from military programs, including the S-3 Prime Vendor Support (PVS) and the F-117 Total System Performance Responsibility programs. S-3 PVS has reduced overall depot-level scheduled maintenance costs by nearly 50 percent, increased aircraft availability by 25 percent and reduced scheduled maintenance tasks by 57 percent.

"Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy have been partners on maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft for more than 60 years, and we look forward to continuing our support in this critical mission area," said Ted Samples, vice president of Special Mission and Reconnaissance Aircraft programs for Lockheed Martin.

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 Corp., visit:
   http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
   For information on Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., visit:
   http://www.lmaeronautics.com/

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company