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Lockheed Martin HAAWC Successful In Wind Tunnel, Wing Separation Tests

ORLANDO, FL, September 26th, 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully performed wind tunnel and wing separation tests of its High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapons Concept (HAAWC) system, intended to enable P-3C aircrews to launch torpedoes from outside the range of enemy air defenses. The HAAWC concept employs the Lockheed Martin LongShot® Wing Adapter Kit on the MK-54 torpedo to allow the weapon’s launch from high altitudes and long standoff ranges.

In the wind tunnel test at the San Diego Air and Space Technology Center’s Low-Speed Wind Tunnel, HAAWC demonstrated expected performance that would enable the torpedo to be launched at the maximum desired range from the target.

“This is the first step to demonstrating this system’s capability to the U.S. Navy,” said Alan Jackson, director of the HAAWC program at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The standoff range that HAAWC provides to the Navy P-3s increases the survivability of both of the aircrew and the aircraft.”

In the separation tests, the LongShot wing kit, attached to the MK-54 torpedo, demonstrated separation at cruising speeds. The wing kit is attached to the torpedo by two metal bands. A device forces open the bands, enabling the wing kit to jettison normally from the torpedo. In actual operation, the wing kit jettisons when the torpedo reaches its normal launch altitude close to the surface of the water. From that point, the torpedo follows its normal operational procedures as it would in a normal low altitude launch from a P-3.

Lockheed Martin is working under a seven-month, $3 million contract for the U.S. Navy to demonstrate delivery of the MK-54 lightweight torpedo from a P-3C aircraft operating at high altitudes (approximately 20,000 feet).

The HAAWC concept improves the delivery accuracy and shortens the engagement time of the MK-54 torpedo. The standoff capability provided to the P-3s could potentially open up the possibility for future use of MK-54s against surface targets by allowing the aircraft to launch from outside the range of a ship’s air defenses.

In addition, HAAWC reduces airframe stress by allowing the aircraft to stay at altitude to launch HAAWC-equipped torpedoes. This will assist in reducing fatigue on those aircraft currently in U.S. Navy service, as well as future Navy aircraft.

The LongShot is a low-cost, self-contained wing adaptor kit that provides range extension and autonomous guidance to a family of existing air-to-surface munitions, including sea mines, gravity bombs, laser-guided bombs and tactical munitions dispensers. No aircraft modification is required to deploy a LongShot equipped munition. The system is completely self-contained, including a flight control computer, a GPS-based navigation system and power sources and does not require an electrical interface with the aircraft.

Amanda Wiley, (407) 356-0727
e-mail amanda.g.wiley@lmco.com