Built by
Lockheed Martin Corporation
(
LMT
), the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency ("AEHF-2") military
communication satellite was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station on board a United Launch Alliance ("ULA") Atlas V
rocket. Lockheed developed the military communication satellite for
the U.S. Air Force.
Lockheed Martin is under an agreement to provide four AEHF
satellites. The project comes on the heels of the company's
successful completion of the Milstar constellation satellite
system. At present, the Milstar constellation is on-orbit and is
efficiently providing high quality and secured communications to
the armed forces.
This new satellite is based on the Lockheed Martin's successful
Milstar platform. AEHF enhances the ability to communicate to the
next level advanced communications compared to the five satellite
Milstar constellation. It enables improved transmission of tactical
military communications such as target data, battlefield maps and
real-time footage to the armed forces.
Apart from U.S. defense forces, the companies also
provided AEHF support to several nations including the United
Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands.
In November 2001, the U.S. Air Force entered into the AEHF
Program agreement, worth $2.698 billion, with Lockheed Martin
Corporation
and
Northrop Grumman Corporation
(
NOC
). The first AEHF satellite was launched in August 2010 from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas
V launch vehicle. Subsequent to the two successful launches, the
Air Force is in talks to add two more AEHFs.
Lockheed Martin is a major U.S. defense contractor with a
platform-centric focus that guarantees a steady inflow of follow-on
orders. The company benefits from a leveraged presence in the Army,
Air Force and the Navy.
We expect the company to benefit from its focus on platform
programs, such as F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role jet, the C-130
Hercules & C-5 Galaxy transport aircrafts, the AEHF and the
Global Positioning Satellite III system, the Littoral Combat Ship,
and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.
But, we are concerned about the limited military ammunition
orders, primarily F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, due to proposed U.S.
defense budget cutbacks. Lockheed Martin Corporation retains a
Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term Hold rating.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global
security and aerospace company that is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
maintenance of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
LOCKHEED MARTIN (LMT): Free Stock Analysis
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NORTHROP GRUMMN (NOC): Free Stock Analysis
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