BEA, Lockheed Martin Strike Defense Deal

BEA Systems Inc. is making a significant new foray into the government market through a new relationship with Lockheed Martin Corp. to deliver application server-based solutions for a variety of needs, including Homeland Security, the companies said.

Under an agreement announced Monday, BEA and Lockheed Martin will work together to identify and pursue new business opportunities in the federal marketplace, primarily in IT programs. The companies will establish cross-functional business development and technology teams to focus their core competencies on existing and emerging opportunities, the companies said.

Mondays announcement builds on existing relationships between Lockheed Martin and BEA. Lockheed Martin uses San Jose, Calif.-based BEAs WebLogic Enterprise Platform software as a foundation technology for its Information Superiority Architecture (ISA). Bethesda Md.-based Lockheed Martins ISA is an architecture that provides mission-critical command and control systems for the companys Defense Department customers, the company said.

Specifically, Lockheed Martin officials said they would use BEAs technology for such initiatives as the Air Forces Theater Battle Management Core Systems, the the Department of Defenses Global Transportation Network system and homeland defense initiatives.

BEA officials said each of Lockheed Martins four principal business areas—aeronautics, space, systems integration and technology services—will have access to BEAs application infrastructure technology and products under terms of the agreement. Systems integration, which has a customer base that includes all of the U.S. military services and civil government agencies, will lead the relationship for Lockheed Martin. The company said more than $18 billion of Lockheed Martins $24 billion in 2001 sales went to the U.S. government.

Sean Reinecke, vice president programs and technology for Lockheed Martins Systems Integration business area, said the two companies also could assist agencies looking to secure e-commerce applications. He said the two companies “can provide advanced solutions that enable multiple systems to operate seamlessly in a highly secure fashion.”