Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated the first live track with the first production SPY- 1F radar system, by detecting and tracking live air targets. The SPY-1F radar is the newest member of Lockheed Martin's SPY-1 family of radars to enter into production. This event marks a significant milestone for an integrated weapon system that will provide critical capabilities for the surface fleets of navies around the world.

The first application of the SPY-1F radar is the new class of frigates in development by IZAR of Ferrol, Spain, and Lockheed Martin for the Royal Norwegian Navy. SPY-1F will remain in test at Lockheed Martin's System Acceptance Site in Moorestown, N.J., during 2003, after which it will be installed on the F310 Norway frigate in the IZAR shipyard. In all, five Norwegian New Frigates are currently under contract for production.

"This is a significant stride forward and a major milestone in the Norwegian F310 integration effort at Lockheed Martin," said Fred P. Moosally, president of Lockheed Martin's Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems. "The SPY-1F radar and the entire Norwegian Frigate weapon system will bring tremendous benefits to the Royal Norwegian Navy."

The SPY-1F's primary purpose is anti-air warfare and ship self defense. As a multi-function radar, SPY-1F detects and tracks air and surface objects along with providing missile communication. The SPY-1F radar provides highly robust performance in a versatile package, specifically designed to support a wide range of naval vessels.

The SPY-1F is an important element of Lockheed Martin's responsibilities on the Norwegian Frigate program, which includes integration of the entire Integrated Weapon System encompassing all sensors, weapons, software development, communications, and navigation. The system is based on the Aegis Weapon System, originally developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy.

"SPY-1F is going to provide the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen Class Frigates with excellent detection, tracking and fire control capability," said Commander Nils Stensones, Norwegian Project Officer. "It is impressive to see this capability coming along according to plan, as successfully demonstrated during the first track event."

The Aegis Weapon System includes the AN/SPY-1D(V) radar, the U.S. Navy's most advanced computer-controlled radar system. When paired with the Lockheed Martin-developed MK 41 Vertical Launch System, it is capable of delivering missiles for every mission and threat environment in naval warfare. The SPY-1 family of multi-function phased array radars, available worldwide to meet the mission needs for a range of ships from corvettes to aircraft carriers, provides U.S. and allied nations with the world's most advanced naval surveillance, anti-air warfare and missile defense capabilities.

Aegis is currently installed on 64 U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers on station around the globe, and at least 25 more ships are planned. Aegis is the primary naval weapon system for Japan, it is part of two European ship construction programs -- the Spanish F-100 and the Norwegian New Frigate -- and the Republic of Korea recently selected Aegis for its newest class of destroyers.

As the leading technology solutions provider and integrator to the U.S. government, Lockheed Martin focuses on the defense, information technology and homeland security requirements of the military services and civil agencies. The corporation's advanced technology solutions draw on world-class capabilities in systems engineering and integration, complex project management, software development and information technology. These align with emerging homeland security requirements for enhanced command and control, threat information alert and exchange, border control, critical infrastructure protection and emergency management and incident response. Lockheed Martin Corporation is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin