July 26, 2019 | International, Aerospace
SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 25, 2019 – Lockheed Martin's Radar Sensor Systems market segment has been awarded a contract from Northrop Grumman worth over $600 million for multi-year production (MYP) of 24 additional APY-9 radars for the U.S. Navy's E-2D aircraft program. It's also known as the Advanced Hawkeye program.
The APY-9 radar program is nearing completion of a current five-year production contract in 2020, and this new award calls for another five years of production – with deliveries spanning from 2021 to 2025. The latest radar order will include Lockheed Martin's new Advanced Radar Processor.
“We're excited to have the opportunity to continue producing APY-9 radars for the Navy's use on its Advanced Hawkeye aircraft and to continue supporting our customers with performance upgrades on a regular basis,” Ken Kaminski, Airborne & National Surveillance Radar program director, said.
The APY-9 radar is an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) surveillance system that provides both mechanical and electronic scanning capabilities designed to “see” smaller targets – and more of them – at a greater range, particularly in coastal regions and over land.
“The team has performed extremely well to date in terms of delivering all of our APY-9 systems on or ahead of schedule,” Kaminski said.
Production work is performed at Lockheed Martin sites in Syracuse and Owego, New York, and Clearwater, Florida.
March 3, 2021 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
The artificial intelligence-powered aircraft will be able to perform missions for five hours, and will be connected to a satellite communications data network.
July 22, 2020 | International, Aerospace
July 21, 2020 | By John A. Tirpak If defense spending goes down in the coming year—expected because of large COVID-19 bailout packages—it could be an opportunity for Lockheed Martin, company President and Chief Executive Officer James D. Taiclet said July 21. In a second-quarter results call with investors and financial reporters, Taiclet—in his first such call after succeeding Marillyn A. Hewson in the job—said the company isn't betting on defense budgets to go up or down. But Lockheed is sitting on so much cash—nearly $8 billion—it could go shopping for other companies in distress if budgets fall, he said. “If there is a downturn, we're going to look for silver linings that may be there,” Taiclet said. Given the company's strong backlog and balance sheet, “there could be opportunities for us to act in a period where asset prices are depressed, for things we may want to bring into the company.” Acquisition targets “we really wanted ... might be even more available at attractive prices.” He did not discuss large possible acquisition interests, and only broadly mentioned looking at small companies able to build Lockheed's vertical integration in some technology areas. Taiclet declined to speculate on whether budgets will rise or fall. “We're just getting the company ready for either scenario, frankly,” he said. “If it's stable or slightly rising, ... we know how to handle that. But if it's declining, we're planning for that, too.” In case of a downturn, he's asked business area managers to do “a ‘Red Team' kind of exercise ... We would offer our customers ... ‘this is what we think you should do with our products and programs for extending'” the life of existing platforms. With a $150 billion backlog in hand, though—a new company “high water mark,” Taiclet said—“it's going to be two to three years” before any defense budget cuts “actually go into the defense industrial base production lines, so we have time to work with the customer ... They can have their contingency plan and we're behind them 100 percent.” Taiclet said international customers may also see budget declines, but doesn't expect Lockheed to be hit hard by that. While some requests for proposals are “moving to the right,” the planned in-service dates of prospective customers are not, he noted. Taiclet and Kenneth R. Possenriede, vice president and chief financial officer, said the company expects 90 total new F-16 orders from Taiwan and another country; C-130s for Indonesia; Aegis systems for Japan; and MH-60R helicopters for India, as well as increasing orders for missile defense systems. They also said the chief competitors to the U.S. are spending lavishly on defense systems and the threat is not diminishing, despite COVID. China is “aggressive and ... aspirational,” Taiclet said, while Russia is “back in the game,” making strategic investments in long-range systems to make up for its diminished ground forces. Production of the F-35, Lockheed's marquee aeronautics program, will likely be 40 percent for foreign users in the coming years, Possenriede said. Of the aeronautics division's $9 billion in orders, $7 billion is accounted for by the F-35, with a backlog of 411 airplanes. Taiclet noted that Lockhed has hired 9,000 new employees since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and is seeking to hire 3,000 more in this calendar year. https://www.airforcemag.com/lockheed-martin-may-go-shopping-if-defense-budgets-fall-next-year
November 7, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
By: Agnes Helou ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates has launched a government-owned company meant to position the country as a global player in advanced technology that can address the threat of hybrid warfare and streamline the local defense industry. The crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, led the inauguration ceremony of the new entity, known as Edge. “The solution to address hybrid warfare lies at the convergence of innovations from the commercial world and the military industry. Established with a core mandate to disrupt an antiquated military industry generally stifled by red tape, Edge is set to bring products to market faster and at more cost-effective price points,” said Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and managing director of Edge. With a combined annual revenue of $5 billion, Edge employs more than 12,000 individuals, and it will consolidate a number of companies and other entities totaling 25 subsidiaries. Those subsidiaries include Nimr, AMMROC, Abu Dhabi Ship Building, Al Tariq, Caracal, Emirates Advanced Research and Technology Holding, ADASI, Al Hosn, Al Jasoor, Al Taif, APT, Beacon RED, EPI, ERS, ETS, GAL, Halcon, Horizon, Jaheziya, Knowledge Point, Lahab, Remaya, and Sign4l. Edge will also adsorb Emirates Defence Industries Company, Tawazun Holding as well as Advanced Investments Group. “The conglomerate will manage effectively the five clusters it has, through the chief executive of each entity who will report to the chief executive of the cluster within the conglomerate,” Al Bannai told Defense News. Those five focus areas are platforms and systems; missiles and weapons; cyber defense; electronic warfare and intelligence; and mission support. The executive said ongoing contracts signed by the subsidiaries before Edge's creation will continue as usual. "With respect to new contracts, they will be signed by Edge if they are strategic deals, and others will be signed by the subsidiary entity depending on the type of the contract,” he added. “EDGE will invest extensively across [research and development], working closely with front-line operators to design and deploy practical solutions that address real-world challenges.” Lockheed Martin's Middle East chief executive, Robert Harward, praised the creation of Edge as “a great opportunity for Lockheed Martin and other partners to engage with the UAE in a new and innovative way.” “Today's announcement is indicative of the UAE's growing defense and technology ecosystem,” Harward said. "We look forward to working with Edge and helping them expand their capabilities through effective partnerships.” The conglomerate will develop partnerships with original equipment manufacturers and defense contractors, small and medium enterprises, and academia, according to an Edge news release. The company also said it will seek industry experts and talent from around the globe to help on a wide spectrum of modern product development related to its five clusters. The company also plans to develop technologies that advance autonomous capabilities, IT hardware, the internet of things, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials, with a focus on artificial intelligence across all its products and services. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dubai-air-show/2019/11/06/uae-launches-edge-conglomerate-to-address-its-antiquated-military-industry/