Lockheed Martin’s Team Athena has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP) programme which will provide troops on the ground with a new level of situational awareness.

The contract, worth approximately £100 million, will see systems delivered from 2010.

Steve Wyatt, joint sensor and engagement networks integrated project team leader said: “LEAPP is a significant step forward in the arena of Network Enabled Capability. By effective fusing of the right data and ensuring it is presented rapidly and in the right usable format to the people who really need it, LEAPP provides a step-change in the level of situational awareness.”

Stephen Ball, managing director Lockheed Martin UK – INSYS, on behalf of Team Athena said: “LEAPP draws together information from a variety of sources to provide troops on the ground with a precise and timely picture of what is going on in the air. By sharing this information quickly, securely and accurately LEAPP will have huge implications for the way future battles are fought.”

LEAPP gives ground commanders ‘decision-quality’ data in near real-time which they can use to co-ordinate, plan and strike effectively. By improving situational awareness it reduces the chances of ‘blue-on-blue’ incidents and ensures commanders get the most from their available equipment. The core capability is integrated into a truck, allowing it to move rapidly around the battlefield.

“LEAPP is an important programme for Lockheed Martin because it adds a key element to our Air and Missile Defence portfolio and it expands our global partnership,” said Mike Trotsky, vice president – Air & Missile Defence for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “We anticipate the LEAPP capability to deliver modern integrated situational awareness will be a key building block in Air and Missile Defence systems of the future.”