U.S. NAVY completes operational qualification testing of LOCKHEED MARTIN’S common submarine radio room

EAGAN, MN.- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that the U.S. Navy recently completed operational testing of the strategic Ohio-class Common Submarine Radio Room (CSRR) and has declared the system operationally suitable for the Navy’s submarine fleet and effective by exceeding all tested thresholds.

Designed to automate communications, while reducing errors and resource requirements, the CSRR is the only automated radio room that has been operationally evaluated. With automated common systems, the CSRR offers the Navy increased effectiveness with higher fidelity across a broad spectrum of communications, while reducing costs for installation and checkout, crew operation and training, documentation and lifetime support. As a result, operational flexibility, tempo and precision are substantially improved.

“The successful testing of the CSRR demonstrated the capability to support the strategic connectivity requirements of the SSBNs on alert patrol,” said Navy Capt. Jerry Nies, program manager for the Submarine Integration Program Office, which reports to the Navy’s Program Executive Office for C4I in San Diego.

This critical functionality ensures a continuum of leading-edge, quality systems that automate communications, allowing man-power to be applied to other warfighting needs.

Over an eight-day operational testing period, the CSRR accumulated 170 operating hours on-board USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) at-sea in the Jacksonville, FL operating areas. In-port and at-sea operations were observed during the CSRR Technical Evaluation.

The U.S. Navy also recently completed two other successful operational at-sea tests of the Common Submarine Radio Room (CSRR) on-board USS Connecticut (SSN 22) and USS Ohio (SSGN 726), making this latest accomplishment a triple hit.

Originally developed for submarines by Lockheed Martin, in partnership with the Navy, the CSRR has the flexibility to apply to other naval platforms in support of their transformation to network-based communications architectures. The system’s network-centric management and control architecture and technology were proven so successful in the recent operational test, it is included in the Lockheed Martin Airborne, Maritime and Fixed Station (AMF) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) offering in which the maritime assets will evolve to net-enabled data-links and dynamic ad hoc networking. The CSRR also will be going to sea trials in 2008 on the Littoral Combat Ship.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to provide the CRR capability in response to the evolving needs of our customers. The ease in transition to multiple platforms and its applicability to other Navy platforms makes this a highly affordable, innovative and complete solution for our customer,” said Rick Udicious, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Tactical Systems business. “We look forward to continuing this partnership and working closely with the U.S. Navy to meet the critical needs of the fleet.”