ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The LONGBOW Limited Liability Company, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), has received a $26.8 million contract from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command for LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR) Life Cycle Contractor Support.

The follow-on contract includes integrated logistics for the 246 LONGBOW FCR systems in the U.S. Army inventory.  Under this contract, LONGBOW LLC will also provide worldwide sustainment for the U.S. Army and Army National Guard.  The contract includes options that could extend the Life Cycle Contractor Support through 2012.

"This contract leverages existing Apache sensor support infrastructure to create an affordable maintenance solution," said Jerry Garman, LONGBOW LLC president and director of LONGBOW programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.  "Our streamlined process optimizes the operational availability of the LONGBOW FCR for the Warfighter."

"This latest contract further demonstrates the maturity of the LONGBOW program and the confidence our customer has in our technologies and capabilities," said Steve Considine, LONGBOW LLC vice president and director of LONGBOW aviation programs at Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.   

For more than a decade, the LONGBOW FCR has provided Apache aircrews with target detection, location, classification and prioritization.  In all weather, over multiple terrains and through any battlefield obscurant, the radar allows automatic and rapid multi-target engagement.  The LONGBOW FCR integrates with the LONGBOW HELLFIRE missile, enhancing the Apache's lethality fourfold and increasing survivability sevenfold.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

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.

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http://www.lockheedmartin.com

http://www.northropgrumman.com

SOURCE Lockheed Martin