Lockheed Martin Makes Mail Deal, Announces Military Modernization Effort

By Gail Repsher Emery, Staff Writer



SEPT. 13 ? Microsoft Corp. and Lockheed Martin Distribution Technologies this week announced a partnership to develop new products and services based on commercial software that will link mail processing and information technologies. The agreement was announced at the National Postal Forum in Anaheim, Calif.



Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md., Sept. 13 separately announced a companywide initiative to address the challenge of modernizing military electronic systems.



In the mail processing announcement, Microsoft and Lockheed Martin said that by working together, they will help companies and government agencies quickly and cost effectively modernize their mail processing systems with common, easy-to-use Internet and intranet solutions.

The solutions will improve the management and delivery of mail, messaging and merchandise throughout an enterprise as well as between businesses, the companies said.



"This is a significant, strategic step for us," said Michael Schoultz, president of Lockheed Martin Distribution Technologies in Owego, N.Y. "We're linking our advanced mail processing capabilities with Microsoft's information technology capabilities and software to create a combination that provides better business solutions for all of our customers."



The goal of the partnership is to create a seamless communications infrastructure that will provide 24-hour access to information through emerging technologies, such as wireless communication, unified messaging, handheld devices and videoconferencing, said Mitra Azizirad, general manager of Microsoft Federal in Washington.



The companies said their first jointly produced, Web-enabled product will be introduced at the Microsoft Exchange and Collaboration Solutions Conference in Dallas Oct. 10-13.



In the military electronics systems announcement, Lockheed Martin said it's modernization effort, called Proven Path, involves the development of new modular systems based on commercial components to replace avionics and electronics on legacy platforms and to equip new platforms.

The plug-in design allows more frequent capability upgrades as newer technologies become available.



"Our initiative focuses Lockheed Martin's broad capabilities on a compelling customer need and positions the corporation to compete for, and win, significant systems upgrade opportunities," said Vance Coffman, Lockheed Martin chairman and chief executive officer.



Lockheed Martin's Aeronautics and Systems Integration business areas are leading the Proven Path effort. Lockheed Martin's commercial systems already used in the military typically have yielded cost-savings of 50 percent or more over the legacy equipment they replaced, said Russ Frew, vice president of advanced technology.