In its largest contract with an American firm and its first commercially financed project, the Albanian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has awarded Lockheed Martin a $32 million contract to modernize all components of the Albania National Airspace System.

This major air traffic upgrade for the Balkan nation was launched today by the Honorable Dhimitraq Rafti, Deputy Minister of Transport and Telecommunications for Albania, and Jack Clemons, senior vice president, Strategic Programs, Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management, at the Albanian Embassy here. "This contract represents the first step in an exciting and very significant partnership between Lockheed Martin and the Albanian government. We look forward to working with the Government of Albania to help increase airspace capacity while continuing to maintain their solid record of air safety," said Clemons. Added Minister Rafti, "We look forward to working with Lockheed Martin to modernize our airspace management and transfer skills and technology that will enable continuing progress."

The upgrades are needed to handle existing flight demand and anticipated future growth in air traffic. A rapid improvement is needed to service overflight air traffic increases associated with the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece. "This modernization is a welcome and important step in meeting Western standards for air traffic management," said Merita Xhafaj, Director General of Albania's DGCA. "We are pleased to team with Lockheed Martin, a world leader in air traffic management systems, on this very important project that will help transform our region. This upgrade will help us control flights serving the Olympics and transform our air traffic operation into a regional air control center," she said.

The project is the first of its kind in Albania to be commercially financed, according to the U.S. Embassy in Albania. "It is anticipated this project will encourage other international commercial investment in Albania," said James Jeffrey, the U.S. Ambassador to Albania.

"Lockheed Martin is most welcome to Albania," said Fatos Tarifa, the Albanian Ambassador to the U.S. "The time is right and we hope this important project will soon be followed by other commercially financed U.S. projects and U.S. direct investments."

The first phase of the four-year contract will establish an initial radar control capability for the 2004 Olympic Games. Other tasks include new radar, navigation and communications equipment that would link the air traffic system to other airports in the region, construction of a new airport tower and air traffic control center, and the training of Albanian controllers and technicians. Lockheed Martin will provide its SkyLine system for automated air traffic management. Lockheed Martin will also assist the DGCA to obtain commercial financing for the project, said Clemons.

Lockheed Martin's SkyLine system is a single air traffic management system for en route and area-terminal-tower air traffic applications. It provides proven radar data processing with multi-sensor tracking and state-of-the-art advanced flight data processing. SkyLine systems are operating in Scotland, China, Korea, and Argentina, and the system is installed and being customized for New Zealand. Short-term conflict alert systems in Germany are based on SkyLine's air traffic control applications.

Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management has four decades experience in delivering advanced air traffic management solutions to customers worldwide, and focuses on systems integration, engineering design, development, test, delivery and support of Communications, Navigation, Surveillance (CNS/ATM) systems. With its solid record of on-schedule, on-budget performance, the company has earned the prestigious Air Traffic Control Association's Industry Award in four of the last six years. A registered ISO 9001 company, Air Traffic Management employs approximately 1,300 people at major facilities in Rockville, Atlantic City, N.J., Eagan, Minn., and Southampton, England.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics, and technology services.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/atm .

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ .

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin