OWEGO, N.Y., 2 June 2005. Lockheed Martin has signed a teaming agreement with Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division of Rolling Meadows, Ill., to support the team's bid to win the U.S. Air Force's upcoming Personnel Recovery Vehicle (PRV) competition.
Under the terms of this agreement, Northrop Grumman will provide and integrate critical mission systems equipment for Lockheed Martin's US101 helicopter. The company will also support the spiral growth of these systems during the life of the PRV program.
PRV is a U.S. Air Force initiative to procure a more capable aircraft to recover isolated personnel from hostile territory.
The three-engine US101 is a leading contender in the PRV competition, with the largest cabin in its class and proven performance in the combat search and rescue mission. The American-built US101 will enable the Air Force to transport vehicles as large as a sport utility vehicle, or configure the space to accommodate 16 litters or more than 30 troops, along with weapons for 360-degree coverage of the aircraft.
"Northrop Grumman's depth of experience with these types of mission systems will greatly assist our team's pursuit of the PRV contract," said Stephen D. Ramsey, Helicopter Systems executive vice president at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego, the prime contractor for Team US101.
Team US101 is led by Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego, the prime contractor and systems integrator for the US101 aircraft, an American variant of AgustaWestland's successful EH101 multimission helicopter serving with five allied armed forces having logged more than 60,000 flight hours. The US101 team collectively brings unmatched rotorcraft expertise and experience to this program: Lockheed Martin (prime contractor and systems integration), AgustaWestland (aircraft design) and Bell Helicopter (aircraft production), while General Electric will supply each helicopter with three CT7-8 engines.
"Northrop Grumman is honored to bring its proven expertise to this effort," said James L. Cameron, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division, Navigation Systems Division and Components Technology. "It has been our privilege for decades to protect our warfighters worldwide, and our proud heritage coupled with our overriding desire to be the best in the world at what we do will serve the United States Air Force and the PRV program well."
Northrop Grumman Corp. is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, providing technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 125,000 employees, and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers. For more information, see www.TeamUS101.com.
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.
