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Lockheed Martin Fairchild Systems Demonstrates Ultra High Resolution Reconnaissance Sensor On F-16

SYOSSET, NY, May 9th, 2000 -- Lockheed Martin Fairchild Systems has successfully demonstrated in flight tests a new Ultra High Resolution Framing Camera that offers significant improvements in image clarity even while the aircraft is moving at high speeds. The camera uses a single 85 million pixel detector array, measuring 9216 x 9216 pixels, and employs a unique method of on-chip electronic image stabilization to freeze the apparent image motion caused by the aircraft's forward velocity. Designed for both reconnaissance and mapping applications, the camera can capture a single image covering a full square mile of the ground with resolution sufficient to identify the tires on individual vehicles. Flight testing of the camera, installed in a pod beneath an F-16, produced crisp pictures from a 3,000-foot altitude while the aircraft was traveling at 550 miles per hour.

The sensor is of interest to many U.S. and international customers who fly tactical fighters such as the F-16, and to a wide variety of commercial and government agencies that conduct aerial mapping, said David Hails, Senior Vice President-Marketing, New Business and Programs.

"Actual testing on the F-16 validates the camera's utility from tactical military aircraft as well as non-military platforms," Mr. Hails said. "Today, many customers have adopted a fly-before-buy philosophy which motivates contractors to prove new technologies as early as possible. In this case, the development of the Ultra High Resolution Sensor hardware itself was partially funded under a contract from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Lockheed Martin has been further funding the flight demonstrations."

Lockheed Martin's flight test personnel were extremely enthusiastic about the results of the demonstration. "We were able to go from the initial flight concept to successful completion of flight tests in less than four weeks," said Ted Zwicker, Program Manager. "The speed of this test program is a testament to the robustness of the hardware."

Lockheed Martin Fairchild Systems is a high technology company specializing in electro-optical reconnaissance systems for use on tactical military aircraft. The company manufactures high performance electro-optical sensors and is a world leader in the complete integration of EO systems for a variety of applications including mission planning, cockpit control, sensing, recording, data linking, airborne environmental control, airborne data exploitation and formatting for ground based data exploitation.

Lockheed Martin Fairchild Systems also manufactures cockpit TV sensors and low light level TV sensors as well as custom focal planes for commercial applications in the medical and dental marketplace.

Lockheed Martin Fairchild Systems, located in Syosset, NY, is a division of Lockheed Martin Aerospace Electronics Systems.

Thomas J. Murray
Telephone: (516)-349-2224; Facsimile: (516)-349-2646
Email: thomas.j.murray@lmco.com