Information

AKRON, OHIO, April 28, 2003  Strengthening its existing simulation and training capabilities, Lockheed Martin has developed a new process to rapidly convert raw aerial and satellite imagery into three-dimensional visual databases for realistic, immersive training. The company is offering the new capability to simulator users as a virtual environment source for pilot training systems, providing a high- fidelity ready-for-training database.

The service marries Lockheed Martin heritage software with the best commercial off-the-shelf software products and technology. It also allows insertion of imagery captured from low- to medium-resolution sources, transformation of black-and-white source imagery to color, and scenes that transition from daylight to nighttime.

"Lockheed Martin's visual database generation capabilities are rooted in the success of our company's many simulation and training programs such as the U.S. Air Force's F-16 Mission Training Center (MTC)," said Rich Roop, director-simulation and training business development at Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems in Akron. "The realism our team adds in using geo-realistic terrain, vegetation and man-made infrastructure, is a big step forward in flight simulation. Pilots can see flight paths at any altitude and use tactical waypoints not visible on current databases."

Lockheed Martin's experience in front- and back-end database toolsets enables efficient production of correlated out-the-window, sensor, mission planning and after-action review databases. Available in a variety of versions such as vision, sensor and supporting subsystems; runtime and common format databases are published in industry standard formats such as OpenFlightŪ, GeoTIFF and shapefiles. The training databases offer new dimensions of realism and a level of detail better than one-half meter. Entities include a variety of three-dimensional models including several hundred configurable aircraft, surface threats and electronic emissions. The database contains details like selectable fin flashes, damage states, articulated landing gear, airfield approach lighting and weapons. The service is designed to have cost-effective source acquisition, terrain generation and image correction.

Lockheed Martin Training focuses on the training capabilities of six existing companies under one common banner to better meet customer requirements, increase synergy and improve operating efficiency. Training businesses are Lockheed Martin Information Systems, Orlando, Fla.; Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas; Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems (Akron, Ohio; Manassas and Moorestown, Va.); and Systems Support & Training Services, Seabrook, Md.

Originally awarded in 1999, the F-16 MTC program recently began production on additional pilot systems for delivery to Spangdahlem (Germany) and Mountain Home (Idaho) Air Bases. A multi-ship pilot training system is currently in use at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and pilots are training on a single- ship configuration at Mountain Home.

NE&SS-Radar Systems in Akron provides laser-based commercial and electronic warfare products, sensor systems, aircrew simulation and training systems, antisubmarine warfare and surveillance systems to customers worldwide. It is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) headquartered in Bethesda, Md. The corporation's principal business areas are aeronautics, space, systems integration and technology services.