Lockheed Martin Targets International Naval Market

In an era of tightening U.S. defense budgets, Lockheed Martin is looking to sell its products to the international community.
“We really are looking globally… [But the Middle East and Southeast Asia] are the two regions where we see the largest demand for our products, and the largest financial flexibility to procure,” said Michele Evans, vice president of business development at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors.
The company is marketing its hardware to countries such as Brazil, Denmark, Australia, Canada and several African, Evans said Oct. 19 during a media roundtable in Crystal City, Va.
One product that Lockheed Martin believes has potential for international sales is its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), which is being built for the U.S. Navy. Several countries have expressed interest in the vessel, said Tom Cosgrove, business development executive.
The LCS is an “in demand” product, Cosgrove said.
The ship, which can be modified to perform different missions, such as anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and countermine operations, is attractive to many nations that want a flexible ship, Cosgrove said. He declined to mention specific interested countries.
As for the MH-60R, or the “Romeo” maritime helicopter, Lockheed is faring well across the pond, said Doug Laurendeau, a Lockheed business development executive. Production of the helicopter is well underway to fulfill a contract with Australia,  
The company is currently under contract to provide the Royal Australian Navy with 24 aircraft, Laurendeau said. Lockheed Martin is also vying for contracts with Denmark and South Korea. Denmark looking to purchase less than a dozen of the aircraft, and South Korea eight, he said.
Another product, the AN/TPQ-53 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar, is in position to do well internationally and replace aging systems, said Lee Flake, director of CTA Radar Systems.
“We think that the marketplace internationally is rather large and we are now beginning to take a look at how we can offer this radar, working with the U.S. Army, to international customers,” said Flake.
The radar, which detects, classifies and tracks enemy rocket, mortar and artillery fire gives users a 360-degree or 90-degree view of a battlefield.
Lockheed also is hoping for international deals for its K-MAX, an unmanned supply helicopter which was originally designed for the logging industry but has since moved into combat roles. Jim Naylor, responsible for aviation systems business development at Lockheed Martin, would not discuss specific potential customers for the K-MAX.
Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin

Topics: International