Lockheed Martin has
chosen Harris Corporation to be a key member of its team pursing a
U.S. Air Force contract to develop the Space Based Radar (SBR) system.
Space Based Radar is a transformational system being developed for the
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to provide global intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance (ISR) for the military and intelligence community. The SBR
system will be comprised of a constellation of spacecraft that will provide
persistent real-time intelligence on adversary activity through the
identification and tracking of moving targets, high-resolution synthetic
aperture radar imaging, and collection of high-resolution terrain information.
“We are very pleased to have Harris on our SBR team. The heart of the SBR
system is the radar payload and Lockheed Martin is committed to applying the
absolute best technology for this capability,” said Don DeGryse, Lockheed
Martin Space Systems vice president for Space Based Radar. “Harris is a
leader in space-based antennas and electronics, and will work jointly with our
Northrop Grumman teammate to mature key technologies and develop innovative
payload architectures that will be affordable and meet the SBR system
requirements.”
Lockheed Martin is competing to be the prime contractor and system
integrator for the program, and teammate Harris Corporation will develop
ground communications architecture concepts and will support another teammate,
Northrop Grumman, developing concepts and technology for the Space Based Radar
payload. The Air Force will award two 24-month study contracts in May 2004 in
a down select to two prime contractors to continue the definition of SBR
system requirements and evaluate alternative design concepts for the SBR
system architecture. Final selection of the prime contractor will be made in
2006, with initial launch scheduled for 2012.
“Harris is very pleased to be a major contributor to the Lockheed Martin
SBR team,” said Bob Henry, corporate senior VP and president, Harris
Government Communications Systems Division. “Harris has been a strong
supporter and active participant in on-going SBR initiatives. This selection
validates our proven expertise in developing spaceborne payload subsystems and
illustrates Lockheed Martin’s confidence in our ability to leverage the
experience gained through SBR program technology developments.”
In February 2003, Harris Corporation was awarded a potential $88 million
contract from the Air Force to develop a pre-prototype SBR payload. The
payload consists of an integrated Electronically Steered Array (ESA) and On
Board Processor (OBP).
Lockheed Martin has been under contract to the Air Force Space and Missile
Systems Center since December 2002 to perform trade studies and define
alternative concepts for the SBR system.
Based in Melbourne, Florida, Harris is a leader in the development and
operation of terrestrial image/information processing, exploitation and
dissemination, satellite telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C),
communications, and ISR architectures for spaceborne applications, as well as
a leading supplier of antennas and payload electronic systems for satellites.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered near Denver, Colo.,
is one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space
Systems Company designs, develops, tests and manufactures a variety of
advanced technology systems for space and defense. Chief products include
space launch systems, defense systems, interplanetary and science spacecraft,
spacecraft for commercial and government customers, fleet ballistic missiles
and missile defense systems.
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 2003 sales of $31.8 billion.
Contact: Joan Underwood of Lockheed Martin, +1-303-971-7398, or
joan.b.underwood@lmco.coml; or Sleighton Meyer of Harris Corporation,
+1-321-727-6514, or smeyer@harris.com.
