Singapore, February 26th, 1998 -- Lockheed Martin fighter aircraft programs captured two prestigious Aviation Industry Awards presented by Flight International magazine at the 1998 Asian Aerospace exhibition in Singapore.

The first flight of the F-22 Raptor won the annual Aviation Industry Award in the Military Aviation category. The first flight on Sept. 7, 1997, was recognized as a key milestone in the U.S. Air Force's program to develop and field a new air superiority fighter for the 21st century. The stealthy F-22 will be the world's most advanced and highly integrated fighter for decades to come, introducing a new era in U.S. air power.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, Marietta, Ga., leads the F-22 contractor team. The F-22 air vehicle team also includes Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, Fort Worth, Tex., and Boeing Aircraft & Missile Systems, Seattle, Wash. Pratt & Whitney manufactures the F-22's F119 engines.

Lockheed Martin and the 3M Company were jointly honored for their development work and flight testing of paintless aircraft technologies. This Aviation Industry Award was presented in the Engineering, Systems and Components category, recognizing flight testing conducted with three types of aircraft in 1997: an F-16, a S-3 and a C-130. Paintless applique coatings are being developed as a means to reduce life cycle costs and environmental impacts of future aircraft such as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Lockheed Martin has conducted the paintless technology research and testing at its aircraft manufacturing facilities in Georgia and Texas. The U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard have both participated in flight tests.

Flight International presents the Aviation Industry Awards annually to recognize the year's most significant accomplishments in various categories of achievement. Final selections were made by an independent judging panel composed of five distinguished figures representing the world aviation industry, and chaired by Flight International Editor-in-Chief Allan Winn.

Flight International based in England, is considered one of the world's most authoritative aviation journals.