MANASSAS, Va., 5 Jan. 2005. Lockheed Martin received a contract from Navantia to work with them and other Spanish industrial leaders in developing the advanced combat system for the Spanish Armada's new S-80A diesel submarines.

Lockheed Martin's combat system approach focuses on an open systems architecture that leverages commercial technology proven on the U.S. Navy's Virginia, Seawolf and Los Angeles class submarines. Lockheed Martin's proven open architecture approach enables navies to easily upgrade systems with new commercial technology and capabilities for enhanced performance and greatly reduced cost over the life of the platform.

"This new submarine program will establish Spain as a premier developer of modern diesel electric submarine technology," said Charles A. Cantello, vice president of Sensors & Advanced Programs for Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors. "Lockheed Martin's open systems architecture model provides flexibility for content while maximizing Spanish industrial participation in the combat system development and integration."

Lockheed Martin has decades of experience working with the U.S. and international navies to provide high-performance, affordable and supportable combat systems for nuclear and diesel electric submarines.

For the S-80A submarines, Lockheed Martin will support a Spanish industry design and develop the core combat system as a technology partner using experience gained over the last 40 years from combat systems design and development work for the U.S. Navy's submarine force.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 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.