Lockheed Martin Opens Electronics Facility in Georgia For the Navy's Fleet Ballistic Missile Program

PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs and Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) today formally opened an electronics facility for the Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) program at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.

Part of the base's Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic, the new FBM Missile Integrated Support Facility is designed to reduce the cost of missile electronics assembly, repair and testing, as part of the Navy's commitment to continual improvement of the entire FBM program. Lockheed Martin will perform missile electronics work at the new facility for the currently deployed Trident II D5 missile and for the Trident II D5 Life Extension missile now entering the production phase.

Officials participating in today's opening ceremony included: Rear Adm. Stephen E. Johnson, director, U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs; Capt. Stephen Lewia, technical director, U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs; Capt. Robert Vince, missile branch head, U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs; Capt. Martin A. "Rusty" Nagle, commanding officer, Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic; and Capt. Michael Gordon, supply officer, Trident Refit Facility.

"Under the leadership of Navy Strategic Systems Programs, this new facility provides state-of-the-art capabilities that will enhance the cost effectiveness of providing and maintaining the electronics packages for the D5 missiles," said Melanie A. Sloane, vice president of Fleet Ballistic Missile programs, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, the Navy's Trident missile prime contractor. "The establishment of the facility illustrates the hallmarks of the FBM program: partnership, disciplined performance and continual improvement by the entire Navy and industry team."

Housed in a renovated 39,000-square-foot wing of the Navy's Strategic Weapons System Supply Warehouse, the Missile Integrated Support Facility includes assembly and disassembly stations, repair stations, test cells and failure diagnosis laboratories. Planning, renovation, equipment installation and certification of the facility were completed in three years. As part of that process, Lockheed Martin successfully tested the first electronics package in the new facility in July.

"The new facility enables improved efficiencies by shortening the supply chain between the factory and the fleet," said David M. Catalano, resident director, Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

Lockheed Martin's initial staff of 30 engineers, technicians and support personnel for the Missile Integrated Support Facility may increase over the next four years depending on Navy needs. Lockheed Martin employs a total of more than 500 employees in Kings Bay at the Navy's Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic.

The Trident II D5 missile has achieved 124 consecutive successful test launches since 1989 -- a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle. First deployed in 1990, the D5 missile is currently aboard OHIO-class submarines and British VANGUARD-class submarines. The three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile can travel a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles and carries multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime contractor and program manager for the U.S. Navy's Trident missile. Lockheed Martin Space Systems employees, principally in California, Georgia, Florida, Washington and Utah, support the design, development, production, test and operation of the Trident Strategic Weapon System. Lockheed Martin Space Systems has been the Navy's prime strategic missile contractor since the inception of the program more than 50 years ago.

Altogether, nearly 3,000 employees throughout the Lockheed Martin Corporation support the Navy's Fleet Ballistic Missile program.

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U.S. Navy P-3 Orions to Receive Lockheed Martin New Production Outer Wings

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has received a $129.3 million contract to build a total of 13 new outer wing sets for the U.S. Navy's P-3 Orion fleet. The all new production outer wings will be delivered to the Navy beginning in early 2010 for installation on selected aircraft.

"Lockheed Martin has a long, proud history of providing P-3 sustainment and support to the U.S. Navy," said Ray Burick, Lockheed Martin vice president of P-3/S-3 programs. "This new wing order is the next step in that partnership."

Lockheed Martin's P-3 wing production line opened in March 2008 and is the cornerstone of the company's P-3 Aircraft Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP). Lockheed Martin currently has the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service under contract for P-3 Life Extension Kits, and has submitted a response to the Canadian Forces under a Request For Proposal. A proposal for the Taiwan P-3 fleet is also in work.

"As the P-3 Orion original equipment manufacturer, Lockheed Martin is uniquely qualified to sustain and support the world's P-3 fleets," said Burick. "Aside from the operators of these aircraft, nobody knows the P-3 better than Lockheed Martin."

The complete ASLEP solution replaces the aircraft outer wings, center wing lower section and horizontal stabilizers with new production components. All fatigue-life limiting structures on the aircraft are replaced with enhanced-design components and improved corrosion-resistant materials that will greatly reduce maintenance costs over the aircraft's service life.

"Lockheed Martin is committed to providing a range of solutions that enables operational effectiveness for P-3 Orion operators worldwide for decades to come," said Burick. "We're fully prepared to support the U.S. Navy and all our customers in their future maritime surveillance activities."

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USS Georgia Flag Project Begins State Tour

Today Governor Sonny Perdue and the USS GEORGIA Return to Service (RTS) Committee announced the USS Georgia Flag Project, an effort to take the Georgia state flag across the entire state and into all 159 Georgia Counties. The flag is travelling across the state, so that everyone may participate in welcoming the USS Georgia home. March 28, the flag will reunite with the Submarine in Kings Bay.

“This is an exciting project because it allows all Georgians to take pride in our armed forces,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “It is noteworthy that this tour allows all 159 Georgia counties to participate in welcoming the USS Georgia home.”

The submarine’s future was jeopardized in 1994 when the Nuclear Posture Review determined that the U.S. military had a surplus of Trident Submarines– 10 on the East Coast at Kings Bay and eight on the West Coast at Bangor, WA. The Nuclear Posture Review committee made a decision that four of the 18 submarines would be eliminated.

This sparked the U.S. Navy to keep in service the four submarines and convert them from strategic deterrence submarines to a precision strike and special operation force capable submarine.

“We have worked diligently with the 16 Georgia Regional Development Centers in planning this unprecedented project to take the Georgia State Flag on a trip across the entire state and into all 159 Georgia Counties,” said Don Giles (Captain, U.S. Navy Ret.), Navy League member and RTS Committee Flag Project Coordinator. “The response at scheduled meetings with County Commissioners in every county has been enthusiastic. To date, attendees at the first 40 counties ceremonial events reveal that true patriotism is alive in Georgia and that Georgians are truly supportive of the men and women who serve in our great Navy and in all our uniformed services.”

Giles has worked with the Georgia Regional Development Centers in planning the USS Georgia Flag Project. This flag is to be presented by Governor Perdue to the Commanding Officer of the USS GEORGIA at the Return to Service Ceremony in Kings Bay on March 28th, 2008.

Chairman of the committee and of the events surrounding the Return to Service (RTS), Sheila M. McNeill, is a past National President of the Navy League of the United States. Ms. McNeill said, “It is very rare to have a namesake ship home-ported in its home state. We are very pleased to have Governor Perdue as our Honorary Chairman. Our committee is working on a series of special events to show our appreciation for the dedicated service to our country by the men and women of the most powerful warship in the world, USS Georgia.”

The USS GEORGIA is 560 feet in length, displaces over 18,000 tons submerged and can carry a crew of 15 officers, 139 enlisted crew members and up to 66 Special Operations Forces for a sustained, long endurance deployment.