Syracuse, NY, 29-OCT-03 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that it needs approximately 100 new engineers by mid-year 2004 and will begin hiring immediately.

The new hires will support a $413.5 million contract for the System Development and Demonstration phase of the Advanced Hawkeye radar program. The contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin in August. The new engineers also will work on the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), under development by the United States, Germany and Italy to protect ground combat forces and critical installations against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other air threats.

I applaud today's announcement by Lockheed Martin and its creation of high-paying, information-based technology jobs that will add to our local economy, said Rep. James Walsh (R-NY-25). I'm pleased to have been able to assist Lockheed Martin in securing federal government work like this $413 million contract. Local Lockheed Martin employees should be proud of their contributions to the defense of freedom around the world.

Lockheed Martin's Syracuse site currently employs 2,200 people, the majority of whom are engineers. The new hires will come from the ranks of radar systems and hardware design engineering, microwave and digital design, signal processing and mechanical engineering. Dr. Doug Reep, vice president of technical operations, said Lockheed Martin will recruit from all levels of engineering experience.

"We are a company with a passion for invention and we pride ourselves on developing original solutions that redefine what is possible," said Reep. "While we're primarily hiring for two large contracts, these new engineers may gain broad experience across several product lines from sonar acoustics to microwave radar technology."

Engineers interested in applying for the new jobs will find them listed on a Lockheed Martin Web site at www.lockheedmartin.com/careers.