Lockheed gets $47 million pact

Ocala Star-Banner - October 5, 2001

OCALA — The Aeronautical Systems Center at Eglin Air Force Base awarded Lockheed Martin a $47 million contract to design and develop the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) program.

The contract is for a two-year competitive program with Boeing to develop the company's design for the bomb and carriage system. After two years, the Air Force will select one contractor to continue with development, test and production.

"It gives us the money to go ahead and do the design and development that would be presented to the customer, and they would decide which company they want to produce the Small Diameter Bomb," a Lockheed Martin spokeswoman said Wednesday.

SDB is a precision-guided munition that will enable U.S. Air Force fighters and bombers to attack more targets with fewer planes.

If Lockheed Martin is awarded the contract, the Ocala plant could play a part in the second phase of the program, which the spokewoman said would not begin until 2007 or 2008.

See October 5, 2001 issue of Ocala Star-Banner for original article.