Dallas, TX, 05-JUL-05 --

Lockheed Martin's [NYSE: LMT] PAC-3 Missile has received one of the National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Gold Medal Award for industrial development and manufacturing, one of the Association's highest honors. The award was presented at the annual NDIA Missile Defense Division Banquet held in late June at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, VA.

The NDIA cited the Lockheed Martin team's exemplary performance in the advancement of hit-to-kill technology that ultimately led to its selection as the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Interceptor of choice to improve the ballistic missile defense capability of the United States Army’s Patriot Weapon System.

The PAC-3 Missile, the world's first operationally deployed missile employing hit-to-kill technology, made its combat debut with U.S. Army forces in Iraq in 2003. Sales of the missile to international Patriot users commenced this year, with orders from The Netherlands and Japan.

In its citation, the NDIA said, Several engineers and program managers from the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control management team pioneered the engineering design and development of a small, agile interceptor that ultimately supported successful demonstrations of hit-to-kill intercepts of stressing ballistic and cruise missile threats while in flight. The team’s more than 30-plus years of exemplary missile development work represent a legacy of innovation and excellence that mark an extraordinary contribution to the defense and security of our Nation and our allies.

Mike Trotsky, Lockheed Martin vice president of Air and Missile Defense programs, said, The Patriot PAC-3 Missile team is comprised of dedicated people from government and industry who have worked tirelessly to give our soldiers the best missile defense system possible. We are extremely proud to accept the NDIA award for the PAC-3 program, and are gratified that our effort to advance missile defense with a hit-to-kill interceptor has been recognized by our peers in the industry.

The PAC-3 Missile was selected as the interceptor for the PAC-3 system upgrade by the Army Systems Acquisition Review Council (ASARC) in February 1994, with confirmation by the Defense Department's Acquisition Board in May 1994. An independent panel reviewed the PAC-3 Missile's effectiveness against Patriot threats, from maneuvering TBMs with warheads of mass destruction to advanced cruise missiles in both natural and electronic countermeasure environments, and ratified the ASARC and DAB selection. The first production delivery of PAC-3 Missiles to the U.S. Army was in September 2001.

The hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile is the world’s most capable air and missile defense interceptor. It uses the kinetic energy of hit-to-kill intercept to defeat ballistic missiles carrying weapons of mass destruction, advanced cruise missiles and aircraft.

Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system. It also has considerable experience in missile design and production, infrared seekers, command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as radar and signal processing. The company makes significant contributions to all major U.S. missile defense systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.