Lockheed Martin was awarded a $7.2 million contract to provide continued support for the U.S. government's Air Sovereignty Operations Center (ASOC) International Modernization and Sustainment Support (AIMSS) program. The three-year follow-on project will help eastern European democracies manage their commercial and military airspace through ASOC technology developed by Lockheed Martin.

In 1997, Lockheed Martin was awarded the original contract to develop and install ASOC airspace management systems in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria and Romania. This follow-on contract establishes a sustainment and enhancement process that includes delivery of hardware, software, logistics and technical support for the 10 existing ASOC systems in Eastern Europe.

"The ASOC program continues to support emerging democracies as they transition to western style airspace management," said Dean DiSanto, Lockheed Martin's ASOC program manager. "ASOC promotes regional stability and builds bridges of cooperation and mutual understanding between participating European nations."

The ASOC system produces real-time recognized air pictures integrating military and civilian airspace information compatible with western European and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standards. Making effective use of commercial components, each ASOC exchanges air traffic and radar data with other ASOC systems, air traffic control centers in allied countries and NATO, in addition to managing active tracks and pending flight plans.

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. A leader in designing, developing, packaging, and producing militarized, ruggedized, and COTS defense computer systems, airborne surveillance systems integration, and C4I programs, Tactical Systems is one of five major lines of business under the Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems (NE&SS) business segment.

For additional information, visit our Website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/minn .

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems