Air Force job to bring Ocala $84 million

Ocala Star-Banner - September, 2001
Star-Banner Staff

OCALA — Lockheed Martin's Ocala facility will handle a portion of an estimated $843 million U.S. Air Force contract. The plant is expected to handle $84.1 million of the overall contract.

The seven-year contract is for Lockheed Martin's Sniper XR (extended range) system. Although 90 percent of work on the contract will be completed in Orlando at the Missiles and Fire Control division, workers in Ocala will complete 10 percent of the work, focusing on the electronic circuit and harness component of the Sniper XR system.

The Sniper XR pods will initially equip F-16 aircraft for the Air Force and the Air National Guard.

Nettie Johnson, spokeswoman for Lockheed Martin, explained that the Orlando facility is working on three other projects with similar technology to the Sniper XR system, which makes it easier to have most of the work done there. The Orlando facility will integrate the system and testing.

Johnson said because the contract was announced on Monday, it is too early to determine the timeline for completion. She said a meeting between Lockheed Martin and the Air Force is planned for early September.

Johnson said potential contracts to international customers and the U.S. Department of Defense could also boost the work force dedicated to the project.

Lockheed Martin Corp., headquartered in Bethesda, Md., will subcontract $11 million of the contract in Central Florida.

See September, 2001 issue of Ocala Star-Banner for original article