A Lockheed Martin led team has been selected for the next competitive phase of a defense program to develop next-generation military communications for warfighters that is potentially worth in excess of $1 billion.

Lockheed Martin will receive a 15-month, $51 million contract for the program, called the Pre-System Development and Demonstration (Pre-SDD) phase of the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System (AMF JTRS). AMF JTRS is jointly managed by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.

Lockheed Martin's team will compete to develop the new sophisticated communications systems, which are based on software-defined radio technologies and are also critical enablers for net-centric defense operations.

AMF JTRS systems will provide seamless, real-time communications among warfighters and commanders -- voice, data and video, the catalysts for warfighting superiority. The systems will be integrated onto air, maritime and fixed stations world-wide.

"These new capabilities will enable net-centric operations and deliver 'Knowledge to the Node,' directly to warfighters," said Stan Sloane, Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President for the Integrated Systems & Solutions business area.

"Our horizontally integrated team brings relevant air and maritime experience to ensure economical platform integration -- the essential element in achieving the JTRS transformational vision," said Sloane.

Lockheed Martin's team includes leaders in the core technologies needed to define the mobile, ad hoc networking capabilities that will distinguish the new communications systems. Major teammates include BAE Systems, General Dynamics C4 Systems, Northrop Grumman Space Technology - Radio Systems and Raytheon Integrated Communication Systems. Others, including Cisco Systems, Inc., NOVA Engineering, Scientific Research Corp., and Thales provide domain expertise.

The team has proven experience in the design-development of complex communication systems, software-defined radios and network and security architectures, said Domenic Costa, Lockheed Martin's vice president for JTRS Programs.

"We have the team expertise to transform AMF JTRS from the 'looks good on paper' phase to 'works well in the real world' implementation," said Costa. "JTRS is a much-needed transformational initiative that will enable greater battlespace awareness, lethality and higher survivability."

The JTRS software-programmable radio system will replace stovepipe radio frequency (RF) communications of the past and provide flexible, fully interoperable use of the 2Mhz to 2Ghz RF spectrum with planned growth for above 2Ghz operations. It will help enable the internet-based tactical Global Information Grid and enhance net-centric capabilities to all platforms, said Costa.

AMF JTRS capabilities will be integrated onto airborne fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles, ships, submarines and fixed ground stations worldwide.

Lockheed Martin is one of two contractor teams selected for the Pre-SDD phase. The contract was awarded by the Air Force Electronics Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base. An award to one contractor team for the SDD phase is expected by November, 2005.

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. The corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin