OWEGO, NY, April 4th, 2002 -- Lockheed Martin together with the U.S. Navy, today successfully completed the total weapon system first flight of the MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter program. "Today's successful flight test not only illustrates the tremendous war-fighting capability that the MH-60R brings to the fleet, but provides clear evidence that the Romeo team continues to make significant progress on the road to a Milestone III decision in early 2005," said Peter Schultz, president, Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems.

Today's activities included a flight demonstration by an MH-60R and an MH-60S, which share a common cockpit designed by Lockheed Martin. The common cockpit results in lower acquisition, training and logistics costs for the U.S. Navy. The MH-60R mission and weapon systems include the Multi-Mode Radar, AQS-22 airborne low frequency dipping sonar, Electronic Support Measures, Forward Looking Infrared Radar, data link and acoustics. More than 400 attendees were on hand for a ceremony at the Owego site to commemorate the event, including U.S. Navy personnel, subcontractors, dignitaries, community leaders and Lockheed Martin employees who contributed to the success of the program.

The MH-60R weapon system represents four decades of U. S. Navy helicopter evolution serving as the centerpiece of the Helicopter Master Plan and Concept of Operations. Today there are six MH-60R aircraft in testing; three test aircraft are at Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD for development and operational tests, and three test aircraft are at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego for integration and test. The MH-60R program is worth approximately $7 billion and encompasses the production of approximately 243 aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego is a leader in providing advanced technology products, services and systems integration solutions for defense, civil and commercial customers worldwide. Systems Integration - Owego employs more than 4,200 people at facilities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and is a business segment of Lockheed Martin Corporation with headquarters in Bethesda, MD.