Space Radar Partnership

Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space of Italy are forming a strategic partnership to jointly develop and deliver a new family of space-based remote sensing systems for customers around the world. The joint business agreement leverages each company's resources, talents, programs and customer partnerships will allow Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Thales Alenia Space to expand their respective remote sensing product areas and businesses.  

Thales Alenia Space develops, manufactures, and delivers turn-key remote sensing systems, including satellites, platforms and payloads that feature Synthetic Aperture Radars for civilian, defense and dual-use applications. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company has a long history in small satellite production and systems integration expertise.

"This partnership builds on our respective strengths and proven performance in providing solutions for civil and defense customers globally," said Rick Ambrose, vice president and general manager of Surveillance and Navigation Systems for Lockheed Martin. "As earth observation solutions become increasingly important to our customers, Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space together are well positioned to help global customers successfully achieve their space radar objectives."

The initial focus of the partnership is to combine the experience and capabilities of each company to offer new, highly-responsive and agile space radar solutions for a variety of customers. The agreement is based on a framework the two companies established in 2007 and has expanded as part of this new phase of development. The two companies are actively completing their integrated design based on proven, technology-ready components and expect production cycle and pricing to be highly competitive while offering customers a space radar with high-utility, flexibility and reliability.

"In the last decade, Thales Alenia Space has strengthened its experience in the satellite remote sensing market for civilian, defense and dual-use applications, delivering several systems, satellites, platforms, and payloads to customers worldwide," said Massimo Di Lazzaro, executive vice president and general manager of the Radar Observation Systems unit of Thales Alenia Space. "This agreement allows us to further expand our customer base and to address the U.S. market as well, where we have already begun our cooperation with Lockheed Martin."