Lockheed Martin Reactivates Courtland Facility for Missile Defense Work.

Business Editors

COURTLAND, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2002

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) today announced that it is reactivating its Courtland facility to work on boost vehicles in support of missile defense programs. The company expects to employ approximately 45 people by the end of the year in Courtland, including current employees who will transfer to Courtland. The corporation employs more than 1,200 people in Alabama.

The work at the Courtland plant is part of an agreement in which Lockheed Martin is assuming responsibility for Boeing's boost vehicle planned to evaluate the capabilities of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program managed by the Missile Defense Agency. Initially, Lockheed Martin will integrate, assemble and test a modification to the Boeing design, known as Boost Vehicle Plus (BV-Plus).

"This facility was designed to accommodate a range of missile defense interceptor programs, and we're pleased to be resuming work in Courtland. The proximity to our customer, GMD prime contractor Boeing, made this site the logical choice," said Doug Graham, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Vice President -- Defensive Systems.

The government-industry team is in the process of testing GMD components to intercept incoming ballistic missiles outside the earth's atmosphere using only the force of impact to destroy the threat. Beginning in October, Courtland facility employees will assemble three-stage, solid fuel missiles that will be used in GMD developmental tests. The company expects the facility's first missile will be launched the spring of 2003, followed by the first intercept attempt about six months later.

"Lockheed Martin has been an active constituent in Alabama for 39 years, and we look forward to re-establishing our relationships in Courtland," commented Bruce Thompson, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Site Director for the Courtland Facility.

Lockheed Martin also is finalizing details with Boeing to develop and build a second design, the High Performance Boost Vehicle (HPBV), in support of more operationally realistic testing for the missile defense system. The company said it would assemble the HPBV in Courtland if the program were authorized. The HPBV work could result in Courtland total employment reaching 70 people by 2004.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space Systems designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates a variety of advanced technology systems for military, civil and commercial customers. Chief products include a full-range of space launch systems, including heavy-lift capability, ground systems, remote sensing and communications satellites for commercial and government customers, advanced space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft, fleet ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics, and technology services.

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