DENVER, May 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin announced today that it has been awarded a four-year contract to supply the Finnish Air Force with an airborne surveillance system and associated ground systems. The value of this contract is approximately US$100 million.

Lockheed Martin is honored to work with the Finnish Air Force, said John Mengucci, President of Lockheed Martin Information Systems Global Services-Defense. We intend to provide the Air Force Command with a highly capable system that fulfils their dynamic airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operational requirements.

Under this contract, Lockheed Martin's team will modify an EADS CASA C-295 turboprop aircraft to accommodate an advanced surveillance system. A key attribute of the system will be an open and modular architecture to allow future system upgrades to be easily added and readily reconfigured to support evolving mission needs. This approach ensures an up-to-date system throughout the life cycle using an innovative technology road mapping process. Lockheed Martin's team will also provide ground stations, and communications terminals to support the airborne system.

Lockheed Martin has assembled a strong team for this program that includes Patria Oy, Rockwell Collins, DRS Technologies, Applied Signal Technology, AdamWorks, and L3 Communications. In addition to this core team, Lockheed Martin will work closely with Finnish Industry to maximize industry participation ensuring national autonomy to maintain the payload as well as advancing host country technical capabilities.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 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 2009 sales of US$45.2 billion.

For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin

CONTACT: Suzanne Smith, Lockheed Martin, +1-303-932-5230;suzanne.m.smith@lmco.com