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Lockheed Martin Delivers 50th AIP P-3C Aircraft

EAGAN, MN, May 8th, 2002 -- Lockheed Martin has delivered to the U.S. Navy the 50th P-3C aircraft modified under the Anti-Surface Warfare Improvement Program (AIP). During a ceremony at the Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics Center in Greenville, SC, Jennifer E. Smith, vice president of business development for Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems "turned over the key" to the aircraft to RADM Richard E. Brooks, commander of the Atlantic's Fleet's Patrol and Reconnaissance Force. The P-3 is the primary maritime surveillance aircraft operated by the Navy and 15 international allies. Its roles include anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; command, control communications, computers and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance; search and rescue, drug interdiction, and exclusive economic zone protection. AIP upgrades provide the next generation of mission capability for the U.S. Navy P-3C. These capabilities, provided through avionics improvements in non-acoustic sensors, communications, survivability, display systems and controls, have been used extensively in all major U.S. combined forces operations including those in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

"We're here to mark the 50th aircraft completed in the AIP program, and I'll tell you that I wish we had another 50 out there flying today," ADM Brooks said. "The aircraft we have in the fleet now are doing great things. The fleet loves these aircraft; the fleet commanders can't get enough of them; and they are, in fact, making a difference in the war on terrorism."

Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems, the U.S. Navy AIP prime contractor, performs engineering and major contract work in Eagan, MN. Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics Center completes the aircraft installation.

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 comprising the Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems (NE&SS) business segment. Besides airborne integration NE&SS provides surface ship and submarine weapon 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 a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) headquartered in Bethesda, Md.

Sheri Grone, 651-456-2210, E-mail: sheri.t.grone@lmco.com