OREANDA-NEWS. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has been appointed by NATS to support the UK air traffic management company’s technology transformation programme over the coming years as their systems integration partner.

The programme will enhance NATS’ capabilities to provide efficient and resilient services to their airline and airport customers. It will support the introduction of a more efficient air traffic system that will meet future demand, increase efficiency and improve environmental performance.

As part of a wider NATS programme of investment, the initial contract will see staff work side-by-side with Lockheed Martin to define, integrate and implement a range of technology services that collectively will evolve and update operational services and enable key SESAR concepts, such as free route airspace, in the UK. Lockheed Martin will work alongside a number of other NATS partners, under a collaborative framework that follows BS11000 principles, integrating a whole series of innovative and ground breaking technologies.

James Williamson, Lockheed Martin, Director Transport said, “The programme to deploy SESAR based technologies is one of the most critical components of NATS strategy and for Lockheed Martin to be selected further cements the ongoing relationship between both companies”.

Tim Bullock, NATS Director Supply Chain said, “This is one of the most ambitious programmes NATS has ever undertaken and will transform how we manage air traffic in the UK, enabled by building a robust multi party collaborative supply chain. As such we need trusted partners like Lockheed Martin, with a proven track record of performance and capability, coupled with exemplary collaborative behaviours.”