Lockheed Martin announced today the successful delivery of the core structure with an integrated propulsion subsystem for the first satellite in the U.S. Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) constellation. It is the largest A2100 spacecraft core structure ever built by the company.

MUOS will provide significantly improved and assured communications for U.S. mobile warfighters. The Lockheed Martin design features third generation (3G) mobile technology that will deliver simultaneous voice and data services, as well as the ability to increase capacity and features over the life of the program.

Users of the current Ultra High Frequency Follow-On system will have improved service and complete interoperability with the MUOS legacy payload which ensures a smooth transition to the next generation of 3G mobile user equipment.

Developed and tested at Lockheed Martin's Mississippi Space & Technology Center, an advanced propulsion, thermal, and metrology facility located at the John C. Stennis Space Center, the propulsion subsystem is essential for maneuvering the MUOS satellite during transfer orbit to its final location as well as conducting on-orbit repositioning maneuvers throughout its mission life.

"Our entire team is focused on ensuring this critical tactical military communications system is deployed quickly and successfully for our customer," said Paul Scearce, Lockheed Martin's MUOS vice president. "Delivery of the first MUOS core structure, which represents the backbone of the MUOS satellite, is a major milestone and we look forward to our continued progress as we enter the integration phase of this vitally important system."

The system was delivered to Lockheed Martin's facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif., in preparation for spacecraft assembly, integration and test scheduled to begin later this year. MUOS satellites will be the largest of Lockheed Martin's flight-proven A2100 spacecraft series ever produced. The first MUOS satellite along with the associated ground system are scheduled for on-orbit hand-over to the Navy in 2010.

The Lockheed Martin-led team, which includes General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS), El Segundo, Calif., is under contract to design, build and deploy the first two MUOS satellites and the associated MUOS ground system.

The Navy's Program Executive Office for Space Systems, Chantilly, Va., and its Communications Satellite Program Office, San Diego, Calif., are responsible for the MUOS program. The contract also provides for options on three additional spacecraft.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global security company that 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 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

NOTE TO EDITORS: for low- and high-resolution JPEG image files of the MUOS core propulsion structure, please visit our MUOS web page at: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/muos

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin