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2013-08-01

We’re very pleased to continue Lockheed Martin’s relationship with the UAE: Executive Vice President Richard Edwards

Richard H. (Rick) Edwards is Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) business area. MFC develops, manufactures and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems and provides technical services and logistics support for military customers in the United States and dozens of other nations. MFC also offers products and services for the global civil nuclear power industry.

By: Sakha Pramod

As the Executive Vice President of the new Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) business area, what is the most challenging task you face in your assignment?

Missiles and Fire Control is an organization of more than 16,000 people who work in company or customer locations around the world and who have a very diverse set of talents and skills. The thing they have in common is that they are all very dedicated to our customers’ missions, regardless of where they work or what they do. Because of their dedication, our company has an outstanding track record of performance and of meeting its commitments with innovative technologies. I believe one of my most important responsibilities is to provide our employees with clear objectives that align to our customers’ priorities, supported by a work environment and resources that will enable MFC to continue to achieve performance excellence. Performance is what drives our success.

MFC develops, manufactures and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems and provides technical services and logistics support for military customers that include dozens of foreign nations. How important is the Middle East, especially the UAE, for you?

International programs are an important part of our business at MFC with more than 30 percent of our company’s annual sales to international customers. The Middle East is especially important to Lockheed Martin and we have programs with several nations in the Gulf region that that are strong security partners with the United States. Lockheed Martin is honored to support the UAE’s military forces with equipment and services solutions. We see significant opportunities to expand MFC’s support to the UAE with missile defense systems and other products, and through industrial relationships.

MFC also offers products and services for the global civil nuclear power industry. Do you see new opportunities in the region and the UAE which is embracing nuclear power in a big way?

Our Nuclear Systems and Solutions business has been providing safety-critical instrumentation and controls for 55 years to the nuclear power generation industry. As a vertically integrated supplier, our heritage of design, manufacture, supply and service are recognized capabilities within the commercial and Department of Defense industries. As a result of this work, we are well positioned to support the UAE nuclear power industry with technology, manufacturing capabilities and processes that are deeply rooted in safety and reliability. Nuclear energy is one of the best solutions for increased energy demand. We are in discussion with nations in several regions of the world about how we could partner with them to ensure the safe operation of their energy generating infrastructure. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we could assist the UAE in its nuclear power goals.

You were very successful in your previous assignment raising by 35 per cent the international content of Tactical Missiles and Combat Maneuver Systems (TM/CMS) portfolio for MFC. How successful were you as far as this region is concerned?

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control tactical products are employed by several nations in the region. Some of these systems, such as the Javelin missile, have been in demand in the region because other nations have seen them perform with the U.S. military services and know that they are effective and reliable. I would like to mention that in addition to those existing programs we have also demonstrated some of our vehicle systems in the Middle East, such as our unmanned Squad Mission Support System, as a pathway to potential new programs.

In what way can the GCC countries including the UAE cooperate with the US to ensure peace and stability in the region and the world at large?

Lockheed Martin follows the lead of the U.S. government in international security cooperation and our products often play an important role in the relationships between the United States and its security partners. The security policy of the United States is focused on ensuring peace and stability in regions that are important to our country, such as the Middle East. We rely on the U.S. and other governments to lead that policy but we are proud that our company can be a partner in supporting regional stability.

Lockheed Martin is a global leader in security and aerospace. How critical is MFC business to your overall portfolio?

Missiles and Fire Control was elevated within Lockheed Martin and established as a separate business area in January 2013 in recognition of the value that we bring to the corporation and its customers. MFC is one of five business areas of Lockheed Martin Corporation and we lead the corporation’s activities in strategic missile defense, tactical missiles, ground vehicles, fire control systems, Special Operations Forces support and several other lines of business.

Your missile defense systems seem to be in great demand here? Can you elaborate on the interest shown by various countries?

There is growing interest in the region for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System and the PAC-3 Missile. Lockheed Martin received the first Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for THAAD in December 2011, providing for two systems for the UAE. The UAE was also the first PAC-3 Missile customer in the Middle East. Other GCC countries have expressed interest in these systems as well. The UAE and our GCC allies understand the importance of the hit-to-kill technology that the THAAD Weapon System and PAC-3 missiles offer. We’re very pleased to have this opportunity to continue Lockheed Martin’s relationship with the UAE, a nation that we consider an important friend of the United States and a valued customer to our corporation.

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