LONDON, UK: May 14 2009: Lockheed Martin UK and Northern Defence Industries (NDI) have recently hosted their second annual Land Domain conference to highlight business opportunities for current and future suppliers. The event, staged in Billingham, Teesside, showcased Lockheed Martin's involvement in the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme and Operational Utility Vehicle System competitions, which will both require significant input from the UK defence industrial base.

Many delegates attended the event, which provided Lockheed Martin's approach to supply chain management and included an "Apache AH1 Operator's Perspective" given by Captain Rory Cunningham of the Air Manoeuvre Training Advisory Team, Army Air Corps. Delegates also met with programme management and procurement experts from Lockheed Martin and some of its key partners to discuss opportunities on current and future programmes.

Stephen Ball, chief executive of Lockheed Martin UK said: "Lockheed Martin UK recognises the importance of the supply chain in delivering capability to our customers. We are working to increase the UK participation through our relationships with Ultra, Thales and Scisys on the Warrior programme. We have used similar events previously, with significant success, as they provide the right balance and opportunity to showcase opportunities and match requirements with innovators, many of whom often find it difficult to catch the eye of the prime contractors."

"We are delighted with the commitment that Lockheed Martin UK has shown in working with our member companies, which include current and hopefully future members of their supply chain," said Robin Fox, managing director of NDI. "NDI has a long-standing relationship with Lockheed Martin through our work on the Javelin programme and we know that they're always looking for ways to bring the innovation and skills of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) to front-line operations."

"This conference, which is in its second year, is becoming a fixture for us to continue an open dialogue with the supply chain. This builds on the significant contribution that UK SMEs have made to Lockheed Martin over the years on a wide range of programmes. Our teams have proven their agility and innovation, which we maintain is a key asset to ensure we can work together to provide the Ministry of Defence with the best equipment available," said Ball.

"Lockheed Martin's ethos recognises the importance of long-term relationships. The mutual benefits they bring can be seen from the enduring relationships that support programmes, such as C-130J and F-35 Lightning II. All in all, we recognise, better than most, the contribution of the supply chain and the stability that working with Lockheed Martin brings to SMEs. It is all about delivering mutually beneficial relationships for Lockheed Martin, our suppliers and our customers," confirmed Ball.

As well as presentations on key programmes, companies took part in individual "speed networking" meetings so that each company now has a clear point of contact with Lockheed Martin UK and some of its key suppliers to explore future opportunities.

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. Lockheed Martin 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 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.