Lockheed Martin Awarded One of Two Program Definition Contracts for Nation's Next-generation Polar-orbiting Weather Satellite System.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 1999--

A team headed by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space has been awarded one of two program definition contracts to design, build and orbit NPOESS -- the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System. The NPOESS Integrated Program Office (IPO) - comprised of officials from the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Air Force at the Department of Defense (DoD), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-- awarded the contracts.

"We look forward to working with the IPO in defining and building an NPOESS system which delivers the required environmental data to the user communities," said Jeff Smith, Missiles & Space NPOESS program director. "Our long heritage of building and integrating polar-orbiting weather satellites will serve us well in moving this very important mission from drawing board to orbit. In addition, our commitment to management innovation and process improvement will help to chart a successful and low-risk course for NPOESS in a life-cycle cost-constrained environment."

During the Program Definition and Risk Reduction phase, the Lockheed Martin team will demonstrate and validate critical design issues, including risk reduction, by conducting Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV) trades. They will develop NPOESS system description documents, initiate process and product demonstrations, and mature a total system design for IPO assessment at the Preliminary Design Review. A single contractor will be selected for the Engineering Manufacturing Development phase in March 2001. The Lockheed Martin team members include Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc., Autometric Inc., Harris Corp., Hughes Space and Communications, Integral Systems Inc., and Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems.

NPOESS will merge the United States civil and military operational meteorological satellite systems into a single system that will satisfy both civil and national security requirements for space-based, remotely-sensed environmental data. It will provide civilian leaders and military commanders timely, high quality meteorological and environmental data to protect national resources and effectively employ weapons systems.

The U.S. government has traditionally maintained two operational weather satellite systems, each with a 30-year plus heritage of successful service. The NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) program began with the launch of the first TIROS satellite in 1960. The DoD's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) was initiated shortly thereafter. Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space and its heritage companies have built all of the satellites for both programs since their inception.

In 1993, influenced by increased congressional interest and following recommendations contained in the National Performance Review, NOAA, DoD and NASA began studying how to converge the two systems. The completed study revealed that a converged system could reduce duplication and bureaucracy, substantially reduce costs, and satisfy both civil and military requirements for operational, space-based, remotely-sensed environmental data. A robust NPOESS program is the result.

Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space is a leading supplier of satellites to military, civil government and commercial communications organizations around the world. These spacecraft have enhanced military and civilian communications; provided new, extensive and timely weather information; studied the earth and space; and furnished new data for thousands of scientists studying our planet and the universe.

NOTE TO EDITORS: An artist's rendition of an NPOESS spacecraft concept is available for downloading at the following URL: http://lmms.external.lmco.com/photos/civil_space/npoess/npoess.html

For more information about Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space, see our website at http://lmms.external.lmco.com