The U.S. Navy today announced that a team led by Lockheed Martin has won the competition to build the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system that will provide significantly improved and assured communications for the mobile warfighter.

"Lockheed Martin is proud to be selected as the U.S. Navy's partner for this vital system," said G. Thomas Marsh, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "Our innovative solution leverages the team's extensive communications satellite experience to help the DoD deliver net-centric capabilities for the U.S. military. We will now focus on building and integrating this innovative, capable, and flexible next-generation tactical communications system on schedule and on cost."

This win enables the team of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif.; General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS), El Segundo, Calif.; to produce the first two satellites and associated ground control elements as part of the $2,110,886,703 billion Risk Reduction, Design Development, Acquisition and Operations Support contract awarded today by the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), on behalf of the Program Executive Office -- Space Systems, San Diego, Calif. The contract also provides for options on three additional spacecraft. With all options exercised, the contract for up to five satellites has a total potential value of $3.26 billion.

MUOS will replace the current narrowband tactical satellite communications system known as the Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) system. With Lockheed Martin's design, MUOS satellites will be fully compatible with the existing UFO system and associated legacy terminals while dramatically increasing military communications availability and providing simultaneous voice, data and video in real time to mobile warfighters around the globe. MUOS will also maximize the full feature capability of the future Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) terminals. Anticipated launch date for the first MUOS satellite is planned for 2010.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the MUOS program, leveraging its 40-plus years of heritage design, development, and operational expertise in providing the most advanced satellite, communications and control systems for Department of Defense (DoD) and global commercial customers. MUOS will feature key technologies currently being fielded in the commercial telecommunications industry and will significantly increase capacity for the mobile warfighter over the next two decades. Lockheed Martin's award-winning A2100 bus will serve as the MUOS spacecraft platform.

General Dynamics C4 Systems will lead the user-entry and integrated ground segments of the MUOS program, supplying a secure ground network, satellite control and network management, and a JTRS-compliant terminal solution. BSS will provide a significant portion of the UHF payload capability. Harris Corporation will supply the MUOS spacecraft antenna. The team also includes Northrop Grumman.

"We are very excited to be given the opportunity to apply our longstanding UHF SATCOM heritage to the end users of MUOS," said Ron Taylor, a vice president of General Dynamics C4 Systems. "We understand the needs of warfighters on the move and will leverage our experience in network systems to bring them leading edge features in the MUOS infrastructure."

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 69,400 people worldwide and anticipates 2004 revenues of $19 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about the company can be found on the World Wide Web at www.generaldynamics.com.

"Throughout our 15-year partnership with the U.S. Navy to develop and deploy the UFO satellite fleet, we have witnessed great leadership from the Navy in providing vital global communications services to Armed Forces personnel worldwide," said Dave Ryan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Satellite Systems. "Through this partnership with Lockheed Martin, we look forward to once again working with our Navy customer to deliver an integrated solution for the MUOS mission."

Boeing Satellite Systems is the satellite-manufacturing arm of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government, and commercial customers.

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