LOCKHEED MARTIN combat system integration team aligns with Canadian Navy’s Halifax Class Frigate modernization priorities

OTTAWA.- The Lockheed Martin [LMT: NYSE]-led industry team competing for the Canadian Navy’s Halifax Class Modernization program’s Combat System Integration contract today expressed confidence in the maturity of its technical solution, its ability to meet the defined requirements in the request for proposals and deliver this critical program to the Navy on time and on budget.

The Halifax Class Modernization program will upgrade the Canadian Navy’s 12 multi-mission frigates. The Navy issued its formal request for proposals (RFP) for the Combat System Integration (CSI) contract in early February.

Commenting publicly for the first time on the Lockheed Martin team’s approach to the Canadian Navy’s requirement, Lockheed Martin Canada President Tom Digan said: “The RFP correctly places a heavy burden of proof on bidders to demonstrate their experience and ability to deliver this critical program within a demanding schedule. The RFP requirements validate that we brought together the best possible team with the right experience and expertise. Through our team’s efforts, and close observation of the Canadian Navy’s needs, we have great confidence our technologies support the Navy’s goals as expressed in the RFP.”

As an example of the advanced state of the Lockheed Martin team’s progress, the team demonstrated its Canadian Advanced Command and Control System-9LV (CanACCS-9LV) command and control system to Navy and other Canadian government officials in January. The demonstration, conducted at Lockheed Martin’s Naval Integration Lab inMontreal, provided an opportunity for participants to witness a range of scenarios and operational capabilities.

“The Lockheed Martin-led team’s integrated, proven and deployed Canadian Navy command and control system capabilities and interfaces into 9LV, making CanACCS-9LV the most capable, low risk solution for the Navy. Saab’s 9LV is deployed in 14 international navies and on more than 200 warships worldwide,” Digan said.

“CanACCS-9LV is ready for delivery today,” he added.

Lockheed Martin Canada is the original combat systems integrator for the Halifax Patrol Frigate and in-service support provider for both the Halifax and Iroquois Class vessels. The Lockheed Martin-led team, which includes Saab Systems, xwave, IBM Canada, L-3 Electronic Systems and CAE Professional Services, has been working together for the past two years to start the engineering, analysis and risk reduction efforts necessary to execute the HCM program on schedule.

In addition to the Canadian-based team members, Lockheed Martin Canada is pursuing the HCM CSI program in partnership with the corporation’s Maritime Systems & Sensors business, which is the U.S. Navy’s combat systems engineering agent for the Aegis Weapon System fielded on 85 ships in six nations, and is producing the U.S. Navy’s first Littoral Combat Ship.

Lockheed Martin Canada has about 500 employees – and facilities in Kanata (Head office), Montreal, Halifax, Victoria, Esquimalt, Dartmouth , Valcartier, Petawawa and Wainright. It hosts the Canadian Navy’s combat systems integration lab at its facility in Montreal and its teams in Esquimalt and Halifax maintain and upgrade the combat systems, maintenance procedure trainers, and team trainers located there.

Headquartered in Bethesda , MD , Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.