Lockheed Martin today announced that Raytheon, ITT, and General Dynamics have joined its team to develop the U.S. Air Force's next generation Global Positioning Satellite system, GPS III. Lockheed Martin had previously announced Spectrum Astro as a key partner on the program.

The Lockheed Martin-led team is currently preparing for the GPS III Phase A competition.

"The addition of Raytheon, ITT, and General Dynamics further adds to the best of industry team we are putting together to provide an incredibly more innovative and capable system for our customer," said John Sundquist, vice- president, Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems. "We are excited to combine our expertise with that of our partners in designing and producing a best value system that will be able to meet the needs of our customer for the next several decades."

GPS III will address the challenging military transformational and civil needs across the globe, including advanced anti-jam capabilities, improved system security and accuracy, and reliability. The new satellite system will enhance space-based navigation and performance and set a new world standard for positioning and timing services. The team selected to meet this challenge will provide system and sustaining engineering, satellite development and production, Control Segment upgrades, and continuous research and development for this evolutionary system.

For the Lockheed Martin-designed GPS III system, ITT will bring their experience in navigation payloads.

"We are pleased to continue our relationship with Lockheed Martin and look forward to extending our long record of success in developing GPS payloads. We have been providing leading edge technical support to Lockheed Martin GPS systems since 1989 and we will continue to support their next efforts in creating the best in navigation solutions on-board GPS III," said Chris Young, Director of Space Programs for ITT Aerospace/Communications Division.

Raytheon's role on the Lockheed Martin team encompasses multiple elements of the GPS III Control Segment.

"Raytheon offers a 30-year legacy of developing complex satellite control systems," said Bill Jones, vice president of business development for Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems. "We will develop and apply evolutionary technology, along with our Lockheed Martin teammates, for enhanced navigation capabilities to benefit military and civilian users."

General Dynamics' role in GPS III will be to provide the communications payload, as well as modeling and simulation and systems security engineering support.

"We are fully committed to meeting the unique transformational requirements for flexible communications within the General Dynamics payload for the U.S. Air Force's third generation GPS system," said Ron Taylor, a vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Decision Systems. "Once again, we welcome the opportunity to apply our heritage in space systems, systems security engineering, and modeling, simulation and analysis to satisfy the requirements of this complex program. The experience and expertise of General Dynamics Decision Systems and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems represent significant contributions to the GPS III effort."

Raytheon Company , with 2002 sales of $16.8 billion, is an industry leader in defense, government and commercial electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Lexington, Mass., Raytheon employs more than 76,000 people worldwide.

ITT Industries, Inc. (www.itt.com) supplies advanced technology products and services in key markets including: electronic interconnects and switches; defense communication, op to-electronics, information technology and services; fluid and water management and other specialty products. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, the company generated $4.99 billion in 2002 sales. In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, ITT Industries' stock is traded on the Midwest, Pacific, London, Frankfurt and Paris exchanges.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 64,600 people worldwide and anticipates 2003 revenues of $15.5 billion. The company has leading market positions in mission-critical information systems and technologies, land and amphibious combat systems, shipbuilding and marine systems, and business aviation. More information about the company can be found on the World Wide Web at www.generaldynamics.com.

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. The corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.

For additional information, visit our website:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin