Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) today signed a contract with the government of Greece for the acquisition of 12 C-27J Spartan medium transport aircraft plus an option for three additional aircraft. The contract to LMATTS joint venture has a value of $272.72 million, excluding the three aircraft option. LMATTS is a joint venture company formed by Alenia and Lockheed Martin.

"The acquisition of these 12 C-27J medium transport aircraft will provide the Hellenic Armed Forces with an outstanding airlift capability for their peace keeping and tactical missions in the region, and will provide meaningful aerospace workload to the domestic Hellenic Aerospace Industry," said Dr. Spyros Travlos, Secretary General for Financial Planning & Defense Investments of the Hellenic Ministry of Defense.

The C-27J Spartan, jointly developed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. and Alenia Aeronautica, is based on the proven twin-engine C-27A / G.222 airlifter. It has the same external dimensions as the C-27A / G.222, but with substantially improved performance and a digital 1553B-based integrated avionics suite. The C-27J incorporates the same propulsion system and advanced technology as that used on the C-130J Hercules, which includes Allison AE2100 engines with six-blade Dowty composite propellers, advanced Honeywell avionics and new cockpit displays.

The C-27J Spartan first flew on Sept. 24, 1999, at Alenia Aeronautica's flight test center in Turin, Italy. The C-27J was civil type certified to JAR Part 25 requirements in June 2001 and received military type certification by Italy's Ministry of Defense in December 2001.

"The contract negotiations for the C-27J Spartan by the Government of Greece followed a very rigorous and thorough competitive process," said Dennys Plessas, Vice President for Business Development Initiatives for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics/International. "The C-27J was selected on the basis of its overall value, operational capability and offset benefits to Hellenic Industry."

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/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, C-5, C-27J, 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 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.

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

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company