MARIETTA, Ga., Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has signed a contract with the Republic of Korea to provide the nation four C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

Korea's new Super Hercules will be the longer fuselage or "stretched" combat delivery variant. Deliveries will be in 2014 and the contract also contains a two-year support program including aircrew and maintenance training. Korea joins 14 other nations that have selected the proven C-130J.

"Because it is a legacy C-130 operator, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is able to take advantage of common spares, support equipment and a sound knowledge of the C-130 to reduce costs and reach full operational capability as soon as possible," said Jim Grant, Lockheed Martin vice president for Air Mobility and Special Operations Forces Programs. "As an experienced C-130 operator, Korea recognizes the unmatched capability that this new aircraft brings to so many missions."

The C-130J generates greater operational efficiency than older C-130s such as Korea's current H models by flying further, faster, with more payload and higher reliability. Additionally, the C-130J only requires three crew members for most missions, so fewer flight crew members are exposed to potential threats. C-130Js are used daily for troop and equipment re-supply via ground delivery and airdrop, for air-to-air refueling, ground refueling and humanitarian relief.

Lockheed Martin and Korea have been industrial partners for more than 20 years, beginning with the F-16 Peace Bridge program in the late 1980s. Korea Aerospace Industries began manufacturing center fuselages for F-16s, which evolved into licensed production of F16s for the ROKAF. The ROKAF T-50 Golden Eagle was developed through collaboration between Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 133,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.0 billion.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company