Thales signs new Merlin support contract with Lockheed Martin

LONDON (BNS): Thales UK has signed a new contract with Lockheed Martin UK for the next five-year phase of the existing 25-year Integrated Merlin Operational Support (IMOS) programme.

This new contract covers the period April 2011 to March 2016 and continues to provide an availability-based support package for the acoustic sub-system for the Merlin Mk1 and Mk2 helicopters operated by the Royal Navy.

The Merlin’s acoustic sub-system comprises the Folding Light Acoustic System for Helicopters (FLASH) Active Dipping Sonar, combined with a sonics sub-system for sonobuoy processing.

Lockheed Martin Receives $376 Million to Construct Nation’s Next Littoral Combat Ship

WASHINGTON | The U.S. Navy has awarded a Lockheed Martin-led industry team $376 million to construct the nation’s seventh Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). 

The fixed-price-incentive-fee contract provides funding for the second of 10 ships the Navy awarded to the Lockheed Martin team in December 2010. The contracts for the remaining eight ships will be awarded through 2015. Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, will construct the ships in Marinette, Wis., and naval architect Gibbs & Cox will provide engineering and design support. 

Lockheed bags contract to build next LCS for US Navy

WASHINGTON (BNS): Lockheed Martin has bagged a $376 million contract from the US Navy to construct the seventh Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for it.

The fixed-price-incentive-fee contract provides funding for the second of 10 such ships the Navy awarded to the Lockheed Martin team in December 2010. 

The contracts for the remaining eight ships will be awarded through 2015, Lockheed said.

Fiscal Year 2011 Littoral Combat Ship Contract Awards Announced

Contract modifications were issued to Lockheed Martin Corporation and Austal USA March 17, under their respective Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) block buy contracts to add funding for construction of one fiscal year 2011 Littoral Combat Ship each.

This is the second ship fully funded for each contractor under its previously-awarded, fixed-price incentive "block buy" contract for the design and construction of up to ten LCS Flight 0+ ships. The two block buy contracts provide for the acquisition of a total of up to 20 LCS from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year 2015, subject to availability of appropriations.

Critical review for electronic warfare system upgrade that will defend U.S. Navy

Lockheed Martin held a successful critical design review for an electronic warfare system upgrade that will defend U.S. Navy surface combatants from evolving anti-ship missile threats.

Under the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP), the Navy is pursuing an evolutionary succession of enhancements to its AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare system currently installed on aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other U.S. warships. A series of SEWIP block upgrades will incrementally add new defensive technologies and functional capabilities.

Lockheed Martin tops the SIPRI-2009 arms manufacturers rating

American companies dominate in the top ten largest arms manufacturers in 2009, reports Monday Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) having published the rating of the world's 100 largest military industrial companies as of 2009. 

American group of companies Lockheed Martin leads the list with annual income of $33.43 bln in 2009. 

SIPRI experts put British group BAE Systems at the second position with the sales of $33.25 bln. In the previous rating this company managed to hit the American competitor for the first time and head the SIPRI rating in 2008.