Lockheed to help Iraqi Air Force manage air space

Lockheed Martin Corp. has won a $28.1 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide the Iraqi Air Force with communications infrastructure technology.

The award covers the first phase of an integrated technology network designed to increase the Iraqi Air Force’s situational awareness in both military and civilian airspace, according to an Oct. 1 Lockheed Martin statement.

Under the competitive Iraq Air Command and Control System contract, Lockheed Martin’s Tactical Systems business in Eagan, Minn., will deliver within 27 months a networked communications infrastructure including a Sector Operation Center and training suite.

The company will also deliver a ground-to-air transmitter and receiver site and an AN/TPS-77 long-range air surveillance radar system, to be provided by Lockheed Martin’s Radar Systems business unit in Syracuse, N.Y.

“This project enhances the Iraqi Air Force’s capability by significantly improving situational awareness with modern command and control capabilities that are interoperable with other coalition assets,” said Rick Udicious, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Tactical Systems business, in the statement.

Potential follow-on phases of the project might include additional sector operation centers, ground-to-air transmitter and receiver sites and long-range radar sites, Lockheed said.

The Air Force’s Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., awarded the contract.

Lockheed Martin Corp., of Bethesda, Md., ranks No. 1 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.