EAGAN, Minn., 30 August 2005. The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $998,000 contract to study concepts that will assist the Navy in developing approaches to integrate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems in manned and unmanned aircraft.

The results of the Persistent Unmanned Maritime Airborne Surveillance (PUMAS) study program may be used to facilitate the Navy's planning efforts concerning the development of a fully interoperable "family of systems" to improve aerial ISR mission performance at an optimal total ownership cost.

During the PUMAS study, Lockheed Martin will evaluate the current, emerging and planned sensor, unmanned and manned system capabilities projected for availability in 2013. With this analysis, Lockheed Martin will identify and define critical maritime and littoral ISR capability gaps for a recommended set of missions.

"As U.S. Navy leaders guide the service toward the goals of commonality and interoperability, our new study program provides the opportunity to realize these vital objectives," said Richard F. Ambrose, vice-president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors' Tactical Systems line of business. "Our study program will be based on more than 40 years of experience in maritime ISR performance, sensor integration, open architecture implementation, and net-centric environments."

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion. For more information, see www.lockheedmartin.com.