Four Lockheed Martin (LMT) subcontractors will receive the Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator's Award of Excellence, honoring their support of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. aircraft programs.

Lockheed Martin nominated Summa Technology, Jennings Engineering, Epps Air Service and Interconnect Wiring for SBA's Subcontractor of the Year Award, which will be announced during Small Business Week, May 17-21. Every year, Lockheed Martin nominates its "best of the best" small business suppliers that excel in numerous factors, including management, technical capabilities, quality and schedule.

Summa Technology is a full-service designer of aircraft parts for the Department of Defense, NASA and United Space Alliance. The firm currently is working on the F/A-22 flight rudder system. Summa participated in the DoD Mentor Protege program, has been in business 16 years and employs 300 people. The company is a certified small disadvantaged business located in Huntsville, Ala.

Jennings Engineering provides flight control systems, software and test services for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The company was a runner-up for the Collier Award in 2002 for the Desert Hawk vehicle, which has flown more than 120 missions and provides a low-cost solution for protecting military personnel in adverse situations. Jennings has been in business for 14 years and is a veteran-owned small business in Los Osos, Calif.

Epps Air Service supplies S-3 Viking and P-3 Orion aircraft maintenance and nondestructive testing. Epps' technicians and mechanics earned the highest award from the Federal Aviation Administration in the Aviation Maintenance Training Award programs. Their work received the highest obtainable rating from the American Society of Nondestructive Testing. Epps has been in business for 38 years, employs more than 180 people and is a veteran-owned small business located in Atlanta, Ga.

Interconnect Wiring provides electrical harnesses, kits and panel assemblies for the F-16. In business for 11 years, Interconnect employs more than 140 people. Most recently the company was awarded contracts in support of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter instrumentation harnesses and night-vision panels. Interconnect is a woman-owned small business located in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone in Fort Worth, Texas.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin, is a leader in the design, research and development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, C-5, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2. The company produces major components for the F-2 fighter, and is a co-developer of the C-27J tactical transport and T-50 advanced jet trainer.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin Corp. employs approximately 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8 billion.

             For additional information, visit our Web sites:
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                      http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company