Lockheed Martin Corporation today announced plans to establish a $30 million integration center in Suffolk, Va. for collaboration with customers and industry partners on network-centric systems to enhance national security.

Supported by a $50,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the 50,000-square-foot Global Vision Integration Center (GVIC) will serve as a key node on Lockheed Martin's network of facilities linking company experts with customers in the development, analysis and visualization of systems based on integrated information and communication networks.

"This center will leverage the depth and breadth of technical talent across Lockheed Martin, as well as industry partners and customers at remote locations who will link to the facility over secure networks," said Lockheed Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vance Coffman. "We are grateful for the support we have received from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the City of Suffolk in establishing this world class facility to support efforts central to the security of our nation."

When completed next summer, the GVIC will house highly trained specialists in operations analysis; modeling and simulation; computers; and visualization systems. The facility will be staffed by operational domain experts. A staff of 50 is planned by mid-decade. Efforts will focus on experimentation, analysis and visualization of network-centric systems that address major functional capabilities of the Department of Defense and other national security customers. These capabilities include battlespace and general situational awareness; command, control and battle management; force application; and protection. Of special emphasis will be the development and evaluation of architectures or system development rules and frameworks that integrate disparate systems. This development and evaluation will be accomplished using powerful analysis and visualization tools.

"The Hampton Roads area is home to a number of national security customers who are defining new transformational concepts that rely on network-centric systems," said Albert E. Smith, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems and Solutions business area. "The establishment of our center in Suffolk will enable the collaboration vital to our approach in addressing our customers' desire for integrated systems that enhance their operational effectiveness in addressing national security issues."

Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner approved a $50,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to support the City of Suffolk with the project. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the City of Suffolk will provide support to Lockheed Martin, and the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will offer workforce training services.

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.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin