Lockheed Martin will lead a broad team of systems integration experts competing for a $600 million U.S. Air Force program to standardize and modernize Air and Space Operations Centers (AOCs) worldwide. The corporation has joined Raytheon, SAIC, IBM, L-3 Communications and a diverse set of industry experts to streamline and consolidate the complex systems and operations of AOCs, transforming them into an agile, flexible weapon system enterprise that is fully integrated into the Command and Control Constellation (C2C) and the Joint Global Information Grid (GIG).

The AOC Weapon System Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) program calls for an industry team to standardize, integrate and modernize the 48 individual systems and 50 communications interfaces currently resident in a typical AOC, enabling greater collaboration both internally within the AOC and externally with other joint air warfare elements. The LSI contractor will work with the Air Force to set a consistent strategy across the centers, ensuring that the consolidated AOC architecture evolves as an integrated component of the C2C.

"The modern AOC is a tremendously powerful command center, but many of its systems and applications do not interface seamlessly, creating technology gaps between intelligence and operations," said Carlaine Blizzard, Lockheed Martin's vice president for AOC WS LSI. "This effort requires the application of a consistent architecture across the entire enterprise, enabling operators from any mission area to effortlessly exchange information within the AOC and across the Constellation. We've formed a team of industry experts that bring unparalleled expertise in large-scale architectures, commercial applications, modeling and simulation, and sustainment, enabling us to take a comprehensive systems management approach to AOC modernization."

The Lockheed Martin team includes Raytheon, SAIC, IBM and L-3 Communications. In addition, a host of defense and commercial industry technology providers including Dynamics Research Corporation, Intelligent Software Solutions, Gestalt, and Computer Sciences Corporation will lend focused domain expertise in all areas of AOC operations.

The Lockheed Martin team has an unmatched record of performance developing open architectures that can quickly and easily accommodate new technologies. As the AOC enterprise evolves to net-centric operations, the team will be able to continually integrate cutting-edge applications and systems from across the industry and the military, helping to ensure that AOC warfighters are armed with the latest technology.

"Together we'll deliver a consistent, interoperable architecture that will enable collaborative, real-time battle management," said Blizzard. "The net- centric AOC, coupled with the C2C enterprise, will empower warfighters to act with unprecedented speed, precision and confidence, and will make joint air and space power more coordinated and effective than ever."

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