Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space of Italy announced today they are forming a strategic partnership to jointly develop and deliver a new family of space-based remote sensing systems for customers around the world.

The joint business agreement leverages each company's resources, talents, programs and customer partnerships in a way that allows Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company and Thales Alenia Space to expand their respective remote sensing product areas and businesses.

Thales Alenia Space is a leader in developing, manufacturing, and delivering turn-key remote sensing systems, including satellites, platforms and payloads that feature Synthetic Aperture Radars for civilian, defense and dual-use applications. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company has a long history in small satellite production and systems integration expertise.

"This partnership builds on our respective strengths and proven performance in providing world-class, cost-effective solutions for civil and defense customers globally," said Rick Ambrose, vice president and general manager of Surveillance and Navigation Systems for Lockheed Martin. "As earth observation solutions become increasingly important to our customers, Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space, through our strategic partnership, are well positioned to help our global customers successfully achieve their space radar objectives."

The initial focus of the partnership is to combine the experience and capabilities of each company to offer new, highly-responsive and agile space radar solutions for a variety of customers. The agreement is based on a framework the two companies established in 2007 and has expanded as part of this new phase of development. The two companies are actively completing their integrated design based on proven, technology-ready components and expect production cycle and pricing to be highly competitive while offering customers a space radar with high-utility, maximum flexibility and great reliability.

"In the last decade, Thales Alenia Space has dramatically strengthened its leadership and experience in the satellite remote sensing market for civilian, defense and dual-use applications, delivering several systems, satellites, platforms, and payloads to customers worldwide," said Massimo Di Lazzaro, executive vice president and general manager of the Radar Observation Systems unit of Thales Alenia Space. "This agreement allows us to further expand our customer base and to address the U.S. market as well, where we have already begun our cooperation with Lockheed Martin."

About Thales Alenia Space

The European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups' "Space Alliance". Thales Alenia Space sets the global standard in solutions for space telecoms, radar and optical earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. The company has a total of 7,200 employees and 11 industrial sites, with locations in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium. http://www.thalesaleniaspace.com/

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, a major operating unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, designs, develops, tests, manufactures, and operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security, civil, and commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight systems; a full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and communications satellites and instruments; space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft; laser radar; fleet ballistic missiles; and missile defense systems.

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

   Lockheed Martin Media Contacts
   Steve Tatum, 408-742-7531; e-mail, stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com
   Chip Manor, 408-742-3397; e-mail, charles.manor@lmco.com

   Thales Alenia Space Press Contact
   Sandrine Bielecki     Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
     sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com
   Laurence Coquillot    Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 67 66
     laurence.coquillot@thalesaleniaspace.com

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin