Lockheed Martin announced today that it has successfully provided a key software upgrade to the government's Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) interim ground station, the Common Imagery Exploitation Segment (CIES). The upgrade was installed at the two operational locations via an Operation & Maintenance (O&M) contract with the United States Air Force (USAF) Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia. CIES provides the USAF Air Combat Command with an interim ground station capability until the next generation DCGS Block 10.2 provides a complete replacement.

"This system refresh provides Air Combat Command with a vital update to CIES and several peripheral subsystems and interfaces," said Lieutenant Colonel Chuck Angus, Commander of the 330th Air Sustainment Wing at Warner Robins AFB, Georgia and the USAF acquisition officer responsible for contracting and delivering the first CIES Bulk Release. "This refresh not only ensures continuing compatibility with vital commercial version updates but, even more importantly, it delivers an enhancement to performance that has significantly reduced the time critical targeting requirement."

Lieutenant Colonel Angus added that, "Lockheed Martin led a strong team who share equally in the success of this first-ever system bulk release of products. Program Manager Captain Mike McGivern and the rest of his team deserve recognition for not only managing the O&M effort, but, also validating an important Global Hawk interface while delivering the first CIES Bulk Release."

The CIES has provided the USAF Air Combat Command with an interim ground station that has enabled Air Force Intelligence Analysts to use common tools and software. It also provided the USAF with a security hub that is forward compatible with its short-term plan to upgrade several other nodes and interfaces within the DCGS in order to meet increasing operational demands for intelligence. The two core DCGS ground stations produce significant amounts of multi-intelligence products in support of tactical reconnaissance and strategic planning objectives.

"When we delivered CIES last year, we knew it would provide a much needed upgrade to the former U-2 exploitation and reporting backbone of the Air Force DCGS core sites. Now that we've provided this first ground station bulk upgrade, it's obvious that our soldiers and intelligence analysts are getting even more than originally envisioned with new, state-of-the-art performance," said John Mengucci, Vice President and General Manager of DoD Systems for Lockheed Martin.

"The 830th C2ISR Sustainment Squadron team at Warner Robins gets high marks for delivering updates to the field cheaper and better than many other agencies. Our team in Phoenix should take great pride in performing as a Lead Systems Integrator for the Air Force," added Mengucci.

Lockheed Martin has a solid reputation for successfully fielding and supporting Air Force DCGS components for more than 20 years and is a key part of the development of the Air Force's DCGS 10.2 system. Recently, Lockheed Martin teamed with Northrop Grumman to jointly pursue DCGS opportunities for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. Northrop Grumman will take the lead in pursuing near-term Army and Navy business, while Lockheed Martin will take the lead in pursuing near-term Air Force Block 20 business.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion.

For additional information on the Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit our Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin