PALMDALE, Calif., April 27, 2009 -- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] as the systems integrator and Raytheon Company [NYSE: RTN] as the radar developer for Phase 3 of its Integrated Sensor is Structure (ISIS) program.
Under the contract valued at just under $400 million, Lockheed Martin will lead an industry team in the design, build, test and flight-demonstration of a one-third scale airship featuring Raytheon's new, low-power density radar. The autonomous flight test system will operate on station for 90 days, proving several key technologies with an anticipated total demonstration of one year.
"The development of high energy density power systems, an extremely lightweight radar solution and an advanced flexible composite material were necessary to make a stratospheric airship like ISIS possible," said Eric Hofstatter, Lockheed Martin ISIS program manager. "This is an extremely advanced machine that represents a dramatically different approach to persistent real-time intelligence gathering and to the overarching utility of airships."
Raytheon's ground-breaking radar capability is an integral component of the airship structural design. The active electronically scanned array antenna will transmit on UHF and X-band from within the airship.
"The operational goal for ISIS is to look for airborne and ground-based targets and to communicate directly with the battlefield from a single antenna for up to 10 years," said Michael Wechsberg, director of radio frequency systems programs for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems.
The ISIS program will develop the core technologies necessary to demonstrate an extremely capable radar sensor package within the structure of a stratospheric airship, operating at approximately 70,000 feet. ISIS Phase 3 will demonstrate the next step to providing unblinking, mission-critical data to the war fighter from its continuous position on-station.
Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.
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