Tour Follows Recent Sales to Italy & Greece

    MARIETTA, Ga., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin Alenia
Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) announced today that a C-27J Spartan
tactical airlifter will visit six locations across the United States over the
next two weeks.  This tour will provide the U.S. Army with an opportunity to
take a close look at the C-27J.  The Army has expressed great interest in the
C-27J to meet its requirement for a new fixed wing lift aircraft.  During the
six stops the C-27J will demonstrate its outstanding performance and tactical
capabilities.  Tour locations and dates are scheduled as follows:

     --   Sept. 16 - Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
     --   Sept. 19 - Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis, Ind.
     --   Sept. 22 - Huntsville International Airport, Huntsville, Ala.
     --   Sept. 24 - Sacramento Mather Airport, Sacramento, Calif.
     --   Sept. 26 - Army Airfield, Ft. Lewis, Wash.
     --   Oct. 1 - Bryant Army Airport, Ft. Richardson, Alaska.

    The tour follows the recent sale of 12 C-27Js to the Italian Air Force and
12 to the Hellenic Air Force of Greece with an option for three additional
aircraft.  A range of potential American, European and Asian customers have
also shown interest in the C-27J.
    "The acquisition of these 12 C-27J medium transport aircraft will provide
the Hellenic Armed Forces with an outstanding airlift capability for their
peace keeping and tactical missions in the region, and will provide meaningful
aerospace workload to the domestic Hellenic aerospace industry," said Dr.
Spyros Travlos, Secretary General for Financial Planning & Defense Investments
of the Hellenic Ministry of Defense.
    Jointly developed by Alenia Aeronautica and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT),
the rugged C-27J tactical airlifter provides a sure, steady, fast response for
a wide range of missions, including humanitarian assistance, on all types of
terrain.  Carrying up to 22,000 pounds of troops, equipment or vehicles, the
C-27J is the only military airlifter designed specifically for mid-sized
missions and payloads, and is inter-operable with the C-130 Hercules.
    "Our recent contracts with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) and the
Hellenic Air Force demonstrate the strength of the C-27J program," said
Giorgio Zappa, chairman and CEO, Alenia Aeronautica.  "We now look to continue
our success in the United States market as we develop our long-standing trans-
Atlantic partnership with Lockheed Martin on the C-27J and other joint
programs."
    The C-27J's first flight took place on Sept. 24, 1999, at Alenia
Aeronautica's flight test center in Turin, Italy.  The aircraft was civil type
certified to JAR Part 25 in June 2001 and received military type certification
by Italy's Ministry of Defense in December 2001.
    Alenia Aeronautica is pursuing an ambitious strategy for growth in the
United States, evidenced by partnerships with Lockheed Martin on such programs
as the C-27J and F-35, and with Boeing on the 7E7 Dreamliner program.  Alenia
Spazio, the aerospace company of Alenia Aeronautica parent company
Finmeccanica, is also active in developing a series of major space projects.

    Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS)
    Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) is a joint
development venture of Alenia Aeronautica and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.
LMATTS was formed in 1997 with the launch of the C-27J Spartan tactical
transport program.  Based in Marietta, Georgia, LMATTS is owned equally by
Alenia Aeronautica and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.

    Alenia Aeronautica
    Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, is a European leader in
aeronautics and a trusted partner to the world's leading aerospace companies.
Headquartered in Rome, Italy, Alenia Aeronautica develops and integrates
innovative military and civil aeronautical systems, from design and production
to maintenance.  Its activities are comprised of combat aircraft, military
transport aircraft, mission systems, commercial aircraft (regional and
aerostructures), most recently UAVs, modification and overhaul.  Alenia
Aeronautica employs more than 9,000 people on projects and programs for civil
and military applications and had a value of production in 2002 of
euro 1,261 million.

               For additional information, visit our Web sites:
                        http://www.lockheedmartin.com
                         http://www.lmaeronautics.com
                       http://www.alenia-aeronautica.it

Link to this page:

  

http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/117281.html
CONTACT:
Peter Simmons, +1-770-494-6208 or
+1-678-662-4747, or peter.e.simmons@lmco.com , or Sam Grizzle,
+1-770-494-3211, or sam.c.grizzle@lmco.com , both of Lockheed
Martin Aeronautics Company; or Telly Wong, +1-212-261-2626, or
twong@dcinyc.com , for Alenia Aeronautica
NOTE TO EDITORS: Media availabilities will be coordinated for the
tour stops through the contacts.

---

---

Issuers of news releases and not PR Newswire are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Terms and conditions, including restrictions on redistribution, apply.
Copyright © 1996- PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.
A United Business Media company.