Lockheed Martin
Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) announced today that construction of
two A2100 geosynchronous satellites is underway for SES AMERICOM,
Inc., based on a contract awarded in 2000. The Ku/Ka-band satellites,
designated AMC-15 and AMC-16, will provide distribution of video
channels as well as broadband data and internet services across North
America.

“We are extremely pleased that SES AMERICOM has selected Lockheed
Martin to provide the AMC-15 and 16 communications satellites,” said
Ted Gavrilis, president, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems.
“SES AMERICOM is a long-time valued customer and we look forward to
continuing our strong relationship.”

The new satellites will be the fourth and fifth A2100 series
spacecraft currently on order by AMERICOM; in addition, the company
has eight A2100s operating in its current fleet. A2100 satellites are
produced at Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems facilities in
Newtown, Pa. and integrated in Sunnyvale, Calif.

The AMC-15 communications payload features twenty four 36 Mhz
Ku-band transponders and intermediate frequency (IF) processed Ka-band
spot beams which will be deployed in a pattern taking advantage of
frequency re-use while eliminating interference between and among the
beams. The satellite is expected to be operational in 3rd Quarter
2004. AMC-16 is being developed as an identical ground spare. The new
hybrid Ku/Ka-band spacecraft will expand SES AMERICOM’s fleet of
satellites, which provide global distribution of cable, broadcast
television and radio, telecommunications services, business television
and broadband data.

Dean Olmstead, president and CEO of SES AMERICOM, said, “We are
looking forward to the deployment of our first satellites offering
Ka-band services in the U.S. and have great confidence in the A2100
spacecraft, which has demonstrated outstanding performance and
reliability.”

The A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft is designed to meet a wide
variety of telecommunications needs ranging from Ka-band/Broadband
services, fixed satellite services in a hybrid Ku- and C-band payload
configuration, to high-power direct broadcast services using the
Ku-band frequency spectrum. The A2100’s modular design features a
reduction in parts, simplifying construction, increasing on-orbit
reliability and reducing weight and cost. The A2100 bus is produced
entirely from composite materials.

About SES AMERICOM

With over twenty-five years’ experience, SES AMERICOM, Inc. is
recognized as a pioneer and leading provider of global satellite
communications services currently providing capacity on 16 spacecraft
capable of serving the Americas, Europe, the Atlantic and Pacific
Ocean Regions, and Asia.

As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, AMERICOM is able to provide
end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world.
SES AMERICOM’s key customers include ABC Radio Networks, AT&T Alascom,
British Telecom, Deutsche Welle, Discovery, Fox, TV Guide/Gemstar,
Gannett, Merlin, NBC, the New York Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, TELE
Greenland, TV Europa, TimeWarner/Turner Broadcasting, and Viacom.

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems markets, designs and
builds geostationary and non-geostationary telecommunications and
remote sensing satellites for customers worldwide. LMCSS is an
operating unit of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, one of the
core business areas of the Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT – News). Lockheed
Martin has a 41-year heritage of building reliable spacecraft for
commercial and military customers, having launched more than 875
spacecraft and clocking nearly 1,500 years of on-orbit performance
experience.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Low- and high-resolution JPEG image files of
AMC-15 and AMC-16 are available at the following URL:
http://lmms.external.lmco.com/photos/commercial_space/ge1.3/ge1.3.html

For more information about Lockheed Martin Commercial Space
Systems, see our web site at http://www.lmcommercialspace.com