The Marine Corps Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a $14.9 million contract to provide post-production support for its AN/TPS-59(V)3 mobile long range air defense radars. These radars support the Marines' peacetime and wartime operations around the globe, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Under the contract Lockheed Martin will provide new row electronics, including transmitters, receivers and power supplies, ensuring that the AN/TPS-59 has state-of-the-art technology and improved reliability for both air and tactical ballistic missile defense. The work is expected to be completed by January 2007.

"This contract represents the shared commitment of the Marine Corps and Lockheed Martin to protect U.S. and allied service members serving in harm's way," said Carl Bannar, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensor's Radar Systems line of business. "Lockheed Martin continues to invest in the modernization of the AN/TPS-59, ensuring that the radar will become continuously more capable in performing air and missile defense operations in the global war on terror, and in providing ballistic missile defense for the United States and its allies for many years to come."

Sixteen AN/TPS-59(V)3 radars continue to operate in theaters around the world. Subsequent upgrades and enhancements - including one in 1997 enabling the current AN/TPS-59(V)3 to detect and track tactical ballistic missiles - have maintained these radars at a state-of-the-art technology level.

In May 2004, the U.S. Marine Corps awarded Lockheed Martin a $43.6 million contract to assist with the activation of its AN/TPS-59(V)3 production line to provide an AN/TPS-59(V)3 ballistic missile defense radar system for the Kingdom of Bahrain. Production of the Bahrain radar began immediately following a successful Critical Design Review (CDR) in May 2005, with delivery of the system scheduled for early 2007. Several other countries also have expressed interest in the AN/TPS-59(V)3 and upgrades for their existing systems.

The AN/TPS-59(V)3 is the only ground-based 360-degree coverage mobile radar in the world certified to detect tactical ballistic missiles. It can precisely predict missile launch and impact points, and cue defensive weapons against incoming threats. The radar can detect multiple targets, and detect and track small air-breathing threats such as aircraft and cruise missiles. It is designed to operate with several weapons systems, including HAWK and Patriot.

The solid state AN/TPS-59(V)3 can be integrated with other sensors for improved launch and impact point prediction, extended range capabilities, cooperative engagement and joint tactical information distribution. The radar's 740-kilometer (400 nautical mile) range exceeds the range of most tactical ballistic missiles in the world today, and its mobility allows it to be forward-based to further extend the range of the system.

Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system. It also has considerable experience in missile design and production, infrared seekers, command and control, battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as radar and signal processing. The company makes significant contributions to all major U.S. missile defense systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.

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.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin