LM UK to Unveil Innovative New Land Systems Designs

(London, UK, June 24, 2009) -- Lockheed Martin UK will unveil new approaches to differing land systems requirements at this year's DVD showcase, where for the first time it will display the AVATM-2, the second prototype vehicle to be produced using the Lockheed Martin Adaptive Vehicle Architecture; Lockheed Martin's Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) technology base and a Jackal-3 cab mock-up.

Primarily designed and developed in the UK, the prototype AVATM-2 vehicle has the potential to meet several emerging UK requirements, including the Operational Utility Vehicle System (OUVS). Six metres long with a gross vehicle weight of 18,000kg, the vehicle also features a modified V-shaped hull which is as survivable as the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) platforms while having greater mobility and sprint speeds. AVA-1, introduced at DVD 2008, will this year be providing on-road demonstrations.

The flexibility in the AVATM vehicle design and build, coupled with an upgraded suspension system that is currently in-service with the existing UK Jackal vehicles, along with a cab that provides a substantial increase in the area of vehicle occupant survivability, offers unique and immediate advantages to the UK MoD in the areas of performance, survivability and through life-cycle costs.

"Our AVATM and related OUVS vehicle offering was purposely designed with the OUVS mission utilising a whole systems approach that will maximize protection, payload & performance to create a cost-optimized offering for the OUVS Large programme," said Scott Greene, vice-president of Land Vehicle Systems. "Our OUVS vehicle design builds on a battlefield-proven technology baseline, a result of Lockheed's 2006 purchase of British specialist vehicle designer HMT."

The MoD's latest enhanced Jackal 2 vehicle features improved manoeuverability and reliability, and will be able to carry three crew members; one more than its predecessor. Lockheed Martin has redesigned the HMT suspension/chassis system to provide increased upper axle and chassis weight limits. This next generation system is currently installed on the AVATM vehicles being unveiled today at DVD and is available for the Jackal 3 Urgent Operational Requirement, anticipated to come out later this year.

Since 2007, Lockheed Martin UK has continued to develop its offering for the Warrior upgrade programme. At the heart of Lockheed Martin's WCSP is its open and scalable Electronic Architecture. By conforming to industry standards, this architecture will facilitate both full digitisation of the Warrior platform, as well as accommodating additional growth for future upgrades in capability.

The WCSP consists of three elements, namely: Warrior Fightability and Lethality Improvement Programme; Warrior Extended Electronic Architecture and Warrior Modular Protection System. WCSP exemplifies Lockheed Martin UK's agility to innovate and partner.

Lockheed Martin UK will also be displaying its Embedded Platform Logistics System (EPLS) and its recently developed Kudos force protection system at DVD 2009.

Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) - click here for more information