In a changing operational landscape, there is an increased need for contractor partnerships to enhance military aircraft readiness, a Lockheed Martin official said today during a briefing at the Avalon Air Show.

"Lockheed Martin Global Sustainment is the component of our company that helps our customers remain combat ready," said Chris Antone, vice president, Global Sustainment Business Development for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "Our customers can depend on us to provide the expertise to maintain sortie generation rates - allowing them to accomplish their missions."

Antone added that the company's partnerships in sustainment provide military customers with enterprise support solutions to meet the numerous challenges faced through increasing operational deployments, tightening budgets and aging weapons systems.

"To address affordability, we've developed a business model that combines our design and production experience with well-established cost competitive sustainment services," said Antone. "As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), we also offer a number of sustainment solutions to meet our customers' needs. These solutions range from modernization and upgrades to supply chain management and total life-cycle support."

Lockheed Martin embraces the performance-based logistics (PBL) concept and has a number of award-winning examples of successful partnerships that leverage the experience from exemplary post production programs.

The company recently signed a long-term agreement, as part of a partnership consisting of Australian Aerospace, Lockheed Martin and Standard Aero, to provide Total Life-Cycle Support (TLS) for the Royal Australian Air Force C-130J fleet. The partnership, called "Team Aero," will provide deep maintenance of the RAAF fleet that includes:

  --  Supply chain management
  --  Technical publications
  --  Technical representatives
  --  Incorporation of fleet upgrades
  --  Engineering systems integration
  --  OEM reach back
  --  Propulsion support

The Commonwealth entered into contract with "Team Aero" at a signing ceremony at the Avalon Air Show Wednesday, March 11.

As a global enterprise with alliances in more than 75 countries, Lockheed Martin supports its customers with technically advanced sustainment concepts. The company also develops training programs integrated with its support packages to improve operational availability and ensure that mission-critical equipment and programs remain relevant for future requirements for its customers.

Lockheed Martin is a major supplier of logistics systems and lifetime support and performance-based logistics services to military and civil government customers. The corporation provides solutions for platform maintenance, modifications and repair, material readiness and distribution, and global supply chain command and control.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 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 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

For additional information, visit our Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company