Lockheed Martin has selected the Italian firm Officine Aeronavali Venezia S.p.A (OAN) to operate the first C-130J heavy maintenance facility. OAN, headquartered in Venice, will conduct both scheduled and unscheduled C-130J maintenance at a newly built facility located in Brindisi.

The facility will work on the 22 C-130Js operated by the Aeronautica Militare Italiana's (AMI -- the Italian Air Force) 46th Air Brigade at Pisa. Lockheed Martin has delivered 21 of the aircraft to the AMI to date. OAN was founded in 1947 and is a subsidiary of Alenia Aeronautica, an Italian industrial leader in aeronautics and space, which is part of the Finmeccanica group.

"Lockheed Martin has a 35-year C-130 history with the Italian Air Force, and this latest appointment demonstrates our commitment to providing our customer with the long-term support infrastructure it needs," said Linda Allen, Lockheed Martin's director for C-130J International Programs. "The C-130J sale to Italy came with an industrial offset requirement that Lockheed Martin has been fulfilling in parallel to the delivery of the aircraft. OAN's selection will further strengthen Italy's industrial base by providing a new maintenance and modification capability."

Also in support of the Italian C-130J fleet, Lockheed Martin, in conjunction with Italian industry, designed and built the National Training Center (NTC) at Pisa Air Base. The AMI NTC will be used primarily to conduct C-130J aircrew and maintenance training, but will also provide growth potential and classroom facilities for other aircraft programs, such as the C-27J.

During 1999, the AMI evaluated its long-term airlift needs and determined that the best solution was a mix of aircraft including C-130J Super Hercules, both short and long fuselage, and C-27J Spartans. The AMI has ordered 12 C-27J Spartans, a twin-engined tactical airlifter developed and built by a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Alenia Aeronautica.

A total of 180 C-130Js have been ordered, with 118 delivered to date. In the United States, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard units fly C-130Js. The Marine Corps operates KC-130J tankers and the Coast Guard has introduced the HC-130J into service. International C-130J operators include the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Italian Air Force and the Royal Danish Air Force. The capabilities and performance of the C-130J in supporting light, fast and lethal combat operations, as ably demonstrated in Iraq and Afghanistan, make it a true transformational asset.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, 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 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.

For additional information, visit our websites:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company