London, UK, November 19 2009: Lockheed Martin UK and the Defence Support Group (DSG) today announced the signing of a Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA), which will enable the companies, and their suppliers, to enhance delivery of military capability to the UK MoD and sustain critical sovereign skills in the UK.

The SPA provides an overarching partnership framework between the two organisations, which will be supplemented by specific teaming agreements, as opportunities are identified over time.

Today’s signing includes specific teaming agreements with the Lockheed Martin UK – INSYS business for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) and the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) programme; future frameworks could include collaboration on projects in the air domain.

“This Strategic Partnering Agreement underpins Lockheed Martin UK’s commitment to the Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Sector and to maintaining critical skills in the UK industrial base,” said Stephen Ball, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin UK. “From the outset, DSG has been at the heart of our WCSP solution and this Strategic Partnering Agreement will further strengthen our working relationship. Our plan, if we are successful in our bids on the WCSP and FRES programmes, is to co-locate with DSG at their Donnington facility.”

“DSG and Lockheed Martin UK have a history of working together to deliver critical capability to the front-line through the M270B MLRS programme,” said Archie Hughes, Chief Executive of DSG. “This agreement provides the framework needed to drive greater efficiency across our organisations and deliver the best Value for Defence.”

DSG launched on 1 April 2008 and brought together the ABRO and DARA businesses into a single new defence Trading Fund. DSG’s primary focus is in providing expert in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for the through-life support of the key land and air-based platforms and equipment of the UK Armed Forces.

DSG’s Head Office is located in Andover and provides strategic direction to the main sites in Bovington, Catterick, Colchester, Donnington, Sealand, St Athan, Stafford, Stirling, Telford and Warminster. Smaller support sites located in Aldershot, Bicester, Kinnegar and Sennybridge further enhances DSG’s geographic coverage. Small support teams are also permanently embedded in other UK military sites.

Lockheed Martin UK, a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, is a leader in systems integration working on major programmes spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors. The organisation works with more than 100 business partners and employs over 1700 people at sites across the UK.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 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.