Lockheed Martin is leading an experienced industry team in the competition to develop software-defined radios that will dramatically improve joint tactical communications for warfighters. The Airborne Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) will provide software-programmable radios for aircraft that can operate over a broad range of frequencies and enable seamless, real-time communications among forces. Airborne JTRS is valued in excess of $500 million.

"Airborne JTRS will replace the current hard-wired, single-use radios in stovepipe configurations with multi-purpose, digitized radio systems. The system allows airborne warfighters to share information across networks and exploit situational awareness," said Domenic Costa, the Airborne JTRS program vice president for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems.

The Airborne JTRS program is a revolutionary advancement in the Department of Defense's transformational initiative to establish joint communications among warfighters. Airborne JTRS will provide secure software-defined radios that can be reconfigured to support numerous other communications capabilities, including mobile networking. Airborne JTRS capabilities will be integrated onto fixed-wing airborne platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles and rotary wing platforms.

Other JTRS programs, some awarded and some being competed, will develop radios for U.S. Army ground vehicles, maritime and fixed sites, and handheld and embedded uses. All will interoperate to enable joint communications.

"Airborne JTRS is a key enabler for network centric warfare and new capabilities that use information to deliver decisive warfighting advantage," said Al Smith, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems and Solutions business area. "Lockheed Martin's experience integrating the services' leading airborne platforms over the last 50 years is a critical factor in our commitment to deliver this new capability," Smith said. "In addition, our JTRS teammates bring unmatched experience developing software- defined radio systems," he said.

The Lockheed Martin-led team includes major teammates Northrop Grumman Space Technology -- Radio Systems, Raytheon Integrated Communication Systems, General Dynamics Decision Systems and key subcontractor, ViaSat. They bring significant expertise and capabilities in architecture development, secure communications, software-programmable radio communications, advanced networking and platform integration. Northrop Grumman Space Technology -- Radio Systems provides software-defined radios for today's most advanced aircraft -- the F/A -- 22, the F-35 and the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter. Raytheon, also a provider of airborne radios, led development of the JTRS Software Communications Architecture (SCA), and General Dynamics is a leader in secure communications and software-defined radio technology and brings significant architecture experience. Teammate ViaSat is a major contributor whose expertise in the area of secure, anti-jam datalink capabilities and synergy with the Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) program complements the Lockheed Martin team.

"The JTRS family of radios will have a huge impact on the use of tactical communications among our forces," said Costa. "Our team mix, offering radio, networking and platform integration knowledge, applies significant experience and technology innovation to the success of the Airborne JTRS program."

The Airborne JTRS program will be managed by the U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base. An award to competing teams for the Pre-System Development and Demonstration (Pre-SDD) phase of the program is expected in December. An award to one contractor team for the SDD phase, with an anticipated value in excess of $500 million, is expected in January 2005.

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems and Solutions leads the Corporation's systems engineering and integration activities for high-value network centric information and intelligence systems across Space, Aeronautics, Electronics and Information Technology platforms. With annual sales in excess of $3 billion, the business area employs approximately 12,000 experienced professionals across three primary operating units supporting missions of the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. A business unit of IS&S, Lockheed Martin Mission Systems is the Corporation's lead enterprise for Information Superiority.

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.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin