Lockheed Martin has delivered the first advanced Integrated Core Processor (ICP) modules for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter under a $300 million System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract. The initial prototype modules -- delivered two months ahead of schedule -- will be used by aircraft mission planners for software development and design verification.

Employing advanced bus structures and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, the ICP is a liquid-cooled, ruggedized military computer capable of performing 40 billion sustained operations per second. Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems was awarded the ICP contract as part of the initial F-35 JSF award to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.

Tactical Systems delivered four initial ICP prototype General Purpose Processor Input/Output (GPIO) modules to F-35 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company lead and partner Northrop Grumman as a risk reduction effort, delivered in response to requests for early operating hardware to complete advanced software development. The GPIO modules are used for general mission processing, computation and operational logic, control and processing of miscellaneous input/output, and data storage.

The first production unit delivery of the GPIO module is scheduled for September 2003. Tactical Systems will provide a series of ICP module deliveries leading up to the delivery of the final ICP configuration in 2004.

"This is truly a milestone event," said Tom Burbage, executive vice president and general manager of the Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF program. "The delivery is key to helping the JSF program achieve early progress toward a successful first flight."

A leader in airborne surveillance systems integration and the design, development, packaging and production of ruggedized COTS-based computer systems, Tactical Systems is one of five major lines of business within the Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems business segment.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin