Lockheed Martin Corporation is enhancing its unique Center for Innovation by adding net- enabled air combat simulation capability to its powerful network-centric laboratory. Two simulators, conceived to investigate emerging and future capabilities of the world's only 5th generation fighters in production and development, the F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, will provide unprecedented opportunities to test new capabilities, technologies, interoperability and operational concepts within the framework of the network- centric battlespace.

"Understanding how net-centric operations are reshaping future combat operations and the projection of force are at the core of this enhancement," said Paul Bavitz, vice president and managing director, Horizontal Integration Team, Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems & Solutions. "These are fully networked research tools that place these leading-edge combat systems, with all of their advanced sensors and other capabilities, into the modern network centric battlefield environment."

As the world's only fifth-generation fighters, the F/A-22 and F-35 are the first aircraft to combine stealth and supersonic speed with the ability to exchange vast amounts of battlespace-critical data with a wide array of combat assets in the air, on the surface and in space.

The air combat simulators are linked across the Center and beyond to the company's Global Vision Network of 28 laboratories and nodes. The links include the Lockheed Martin Integrated Warfare Development Center in Fort Worth, Texas. These links allow engineers, researchers and scientists across the corporation and in teaming with our customers to simulate and refine how these new tactical aircraft will merge into a host of integrated operational scenarios.

In addition to the Lockheed Martin network, the air combat simulators are linked to the Center's Global Information Grid (GIG) test bed. An industry first, the GIG allows our staff, customers and industry partners to experiment and test new solutions that are net-ready and will place the simulators into a virtual Department of Defense network framework.

"The simulators will add another dimension to our collaborative laboratory that will serve not only to enhance the full capabilities of these modern aircraft, but provide another critical element for our customers and ourselves, in how these systems work within and interact with the broader, modern networked arena," said Buck Marr, vice president of the Center for Innovation.

Lockheed Martin's Center for Innovation is a unique, collaborative laboratory that serves as a critical new asset in the nation's global war on terrorism, homeland defense and transformation of other government operations. The 50,000-square-foot Center, located in Suffolk, Va., provides excellent proximity and connectivity with a number of military commands, national security and other government customers. The Center offers the tools, environment and expertise to help create new operational concepts and powerful net-centric solutions to strengthen our nation's military effectiveness, bolster our country's security, and support other vital government missions.

The rapid integration of the simulators into the Center and greater Global Vision Network demonstrates how the Center can be easily reconfigured to accommodate new projects and capabilities as they become available.

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.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin