SHEFFIELD, UK February 6, 2008

Lockheed Martin UK has introduced more than 126 local companies to potential future opportunities in the Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) sector at an event co-sponsored with trade body Northern Defence Industries.

Hundreds of delegates met with programme management and procurement experts from Lockheed Martin and some of its key partners to discuss opportunities in a variety of multi-million pound programmes including the Warrior Fightability and Lethality Improvement Programme (WFLIP), Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) and rocket artillery systems.

Stephen Ball, managing director of Lockheed Martin UK INSYS said: “Sheffield is already recognised as a centre of engineering excellence. This day was a chance to bring some key companies together to look at ways their skills could be applied to some of the most strategically important UK programmes.

“Large-scale programmes like Warrior FLIP and FRES are hugely important and need a supply chain that is dependable and experienced. We are delivery-focussed and are interested in providing opportunities to companies who share the same principles.

“This conference was a chance for us to meet and share ideas about how we might develop the right supply chain to move these critical programmes forward, ultimately providing the British Army with the very best kit available.”

As well as presentations on key programmes companies took part in individual ‘speed dating’ meetings, designed to make sure everyone got the most out of the day.