Building upon its "Best of Breed" teaming philosophy, the Lockheed Martin-led Littoral Combat Ship team is hosting an "Industry Day" to promote its open business model approach to this critical Navy program. More than 30 domestic and international companies are meeting today to discuss technology and teaming options relevant to the ship's design.

The Lockheed Martin LCS Team recently unveiled Sea Blade(TM), an Advanced Semi-Planing Seaframe, for the Navy's LCS program. An important focus of Lockheed Martin's design effort is to combine the best companies, and the key technologies and processes they represent, to build a low-cost, low-risk ship that will comfortably exceed the Navy's design thresholds.

"We are committed to an open business model approach for our LCS design," said Carol Hulgus, vice president, programs for Lockheed Martin's Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems business. "Our industry day is part of an ongoing effort to provide our team, and ultimately the U.S. Navy, with the best choices available for our design solution."

LCS is a key element of the Navy's Sea Power 21 strategic vision. The ship will persistently deploy close to shore equipped with interchangeable mission packages to perform focused operations against enemy patrol craft and small boats, shallow water mines, and diesel submarines. The Navy considers LCS its most transformational program and number-one budget priority.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the Sea Blade(TM) team, with naval architect Gibbs & Cox and shipbuilders Bollinger Shipyards and Marinette Marine sharing significant roles as principal team members. The team continues to add core support companies where needed to optimize the ship's design.

"The Lockheed Martin LCS team includes global expertise in high-speed ship design, modularity, and a variety of specialty areas including sensors, weapons, and C4I," Hulgus said. "We're confident our design and our team harness the most capability for an affordable LCS solution with minimal risk to the Navy."

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. Lockheed Martin Corporation is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit:

www.lockheedmartin.com

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance

Systems, visit:

www.ness.external.lmco.com

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems