Lockheed Martin announced today that it will transition a portion of its global network to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). The pilot program will work through all phases of a full-scale IPv6 transition, similar to one that a government agency would undertake.

"Lockheed Martin strongly believes in the benefits of IPv6," said Ray O. Johnson, Lockheed Martin Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. "We see IPv6 as an important enabler of robust, network centric operations. Through our pilot program, we will create a comprehensive transition roadmap and develop best practices for future customer efforts."

IPv6 is the next-generation Internet protocol, which provides an exponential increase in the number of addresses available to networked devices. For the military, IPv6 will enable global, net-centric operations that translate an information advantage into a decisive edge for the warfighter.

In 2005, the Office of Management and Budget mandated the entire federal government upgrade from the current Internet Protocol version 4 to IPv6. The Government Affairs Office estimates that the transition will cost the federal government approximately $25 billion over the next 25 years.

Lockheed Martin's IPv6 Center of Excellence will lead the transition project, upgrading a network that spans laboratories in 10 different cities, from California to the United Kingdom.

"We've been working on IPv6 for the past seven years, and we understand that transitioning to IPv6 requires a great deal of prep-work before you actually transition to this new protocol," said Frank Cuccias, director, Lockheed Martin IPv6 Center of Excellence. "A thorough understanding of the process is critical to a successful implementation, and this pilot program will enhance our ability to guide customers through their network upgrades."

The Lockheed Martin-led team includes leading commercial IT vendors who will collaborate on the IPv6 transition pilot.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin