Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been awarded a $30 million contract to increase the performance and memory of the mission computer in the U.S. Air Force's B-52H bomber.

"This mission computer upgrade improves the B-52H's ability to deploy new precision weapons, integrate future capabilities and will support the reliability and sustainability of the B-52H until 2040," said Frank C. Meyer, president of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego.

Lockheed Martin will produce the mission computer, called the Avionics Control Unit, to replace the current AP-101C computers aboard the aircraft, and functional equivalent units, a commercial grade hardware piece used for maintenance and pilot training. The mission computer improvements are achieved under the B-52H Avionics Midlife Improvement contract awarded by the U. S. Air Force Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, OK.

The replacement equipment provides current technology hardware and upgraded software to reduce maintenance costs and improve mean-time-between- failures. More importantly, they provide expanded capabilities to allow adding future capabilities and missions to America's most effective bomber. First installation of the systems will occur in late 2005, with all installations complete by 2009.

The B-52H Stratofortress is a strategic bomber capable of supporting large-scale, global missions. Lockheed Martin has been involved with the B-52 program since the mid-1950s when the U.S. Air Force tasked the company's Owego, NY facility to design and build a bombing and navigational system for the B-52.

"The B-52 program was the cornerstone of Lockheed Martin's Owego facility 50 years ago," Meyer said. "We're very pleased to continue our 50-year partnership with our customer, by increasing the capability of this powerful weapon system."

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin