Lockheed Martin Completes First Combat System for New Class of Spanish Frigates
MOORESTOWN, NJ, July 10th, 2000 -- Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems (NE&SS)-Surface Systems today marked the completion of the first combat system for the Spanish F-100-class of frigates with a "pull-the-plug" ceremony at its Moorestown plant. The celebration was attended by more than 250 people, including legislators, officials of the U.S. and Spanish Navies, as well company employees and executives. BodyThe complete system, the first of four that were purchased by the Spanish Navy in 1997, has undergone acceptance testing over the past several months to verify system performance prior to being shipped to Spain. The pull-the-plug ceremony marks the completion of testing and symbolizes that the system is ready for shipboard installation. The system will be delivered to Spanish shipbuilder and Lockheed Martin partner Empresa Nacional Bazan (E.N. Bazan) in Ferrol, Spain for installation into the first frigate -- designated F-101 and named Alvaro de Bazan. The Aegis combat system will enable the frigates to engage simultaneous threats from under the sea, the surface and the air.
"We are thrilled to provide Spain with Europe's first Aegis system and proud to be a partner with one of Europe's finest shipyards," said NE&SS-Surface Systems President Fred P. Moosally. "The extraordinary leadership of Senator Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Jim Saxton was key to winning this program and adding to southern New Jersey's growing technology base.
"We are grateful to the U.S. Navy for their support of this important international effort and applaud the men and women of our Moorestown team who continue to deliver the world's finest combat system, and today are delivering it on a worldwide basis."
Lockheed Martin is producing the Aegis systems for Spain under the contract between the U.S. and Spanish Navies -- the first sale of an Aegis Weapon System in Europe. The agreement covers production, testing, installation and product life cycle support for Aegis Combat Systems that will be deployed aboard four, F-100 class frigates to be built by the Spanish shipbuilder Bazan. NE&SS-Surface Systems competed with a number of European manufacturers and was awarded the contract by the U.S. Navy in May of 1997 through a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement.
The Aegis system is currently operational by the U.S. Navy on 27 TICONDEROGA-class cruisers, 28 ARLEIGH BURKE-class destroyers. It is also operational on four KONGO-class destroyers in Japan.
With the addition of the first Spanish ship, 60 Aegis ship systems have been successfully delivered to support navy fleets around the world. Last month, the Royal Norwegian Navy signed a contract with Bazan for five advanced frigates. Bazan, as prime contractor, also signed a subcontract with Lockheed Martin for the frigate's integrated weapon system (IWS), an evolution of the Aegis Weapon System. This major program in Norway further expands Aegis' worldwide presence.
E.N. Bazan was established in 1742 as a shipyard devoted to the Spanish Navy and is now fully dedicated to design and construction of vessels for both the Spanish Navy and the international market. E.N. Bazan employs more than 5,000 people in three facilities.
NE&SS-Surface Systems, headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey, is one of six major operating sites in the Lockheed Martin NE&SS business segment. NE&SS provides surface ship and submarine combat systems, antisubmarine warfare and ocean surveillance systems, missile launching systems, radar and sensor systems, ship systems integration services and other advanced systems and services to customers worldwide. NE&SS is an operating segment of the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration business area.
Jim Tierney, NE&SS-Moorestown, 856.722.5848; jim.g.tierney@lmco.com
Rich Palmay, NE&SS-Moorestown, 856.722.2708; richard.l.palmay@lmco.com
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