Remarks upon Receiving the Asia Society Washington Center Leadership Award

Vance D. Coffman
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lockheed Martin Corporation

Washington, D.C., November 18, 2003

Thank you for that very warm introduction. I am very pleased to accept this award on behalf of the 125,000 employees of Lockheed Martin. And I am humbled that such a prestigious institution as the Asia Society would bestow this honor on me.

May I also thank Sec. Ridge for his profound and thoughtful remarks. I believe our country has been blessed to have outstanding leadership during this very difficult time in our history. And Sec. Ridge is certainly a key part of that leadership.

These are challenging times for all of us. The growing importance of Asian-U.S. political, economic and cultural ties came into stark focus after the 9-11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington -- and the subsequent attacks in Bali and other locations.

The senseless violence of these attacks has united us in a common commitment to pursue and defeat those responsible. I know I speak for many Americans when I say how thankful I was to see the leaders of such countries as Australia, Japan, China, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia express their support for the War on Terrorism. Lockheed Martin stands with the leaders of Asian countries -- as well as the civilian and military leaders here in the U.S. -- and we will do everything in our power to help them fight this dangerous global threat.

For nearly three decades, the Asia-Pacific region has not seen large-scale armed conflict. The era of relative peace and stability has enabled economies in the region to enjoy rapid growth and prosperity. That is why the recent outbreak of terrorism is such a disheartening development. Increased security costs, coupled with the fear of instability, could easily cut into that growth and limit the hopes of a new generation of Asians.

One key to the future stability of the region will be the continued close relationship between the United States and our friends and allies. Through a series of alliances and bilateral cooperative arrangements, a stable security environment has been achieved, making it possible for economic development and democratic reforms to flourish. We must ensure that those security arrangements continue unabated.

Lockheed Martin is proud to be a part of what Pres. Roosevelt once called “the arsenal of democracy.” Through our industrial partnerships, we have contributed to the economic development of the Asia-Pacific region even as we have helped meet the security requirements of key customers.

Our collaboration with Asian countries predates World War II, when we licensed Japan’s Tachikawa Aircraft Company to build the Model 14 Super Electra. During the war, we provided Lockheed Hudson bombers to the Royal Australian Air Force. The RAAF became our first international customer for the C-130 Hercules, which we still build today in the “J” class, one of the world’s most reliable and flexible military platforms.

In the defense arena, we work with our Asian allies on fighters – including the F-16 Fighting Falcon and such locally produced aircraft as Japan’s F-2 fighter and Korea’s T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic light attack plane. We provide the Aegis combat systems for several Asian navies. Our radars provide early warning surveillance for a number of countries. And, through a variety of missile defense initiatives – soon to include the battle-proven PAC-3 system -- Lockheed Martin programs help protect against missile attacks.

In the civilian realm, we provide critical air traffic and vessel traffic management systems for a number of countries. And we have worked with Asian governments and companies to design and develop satellite telecommunications systems – and the launch vehicles to propel those satellites into orbit.

All told, Lockheed Martin has more than 300 government and industry partnerships in 30 countries. Year in and year out, approximately half of our international business is done in Asia, and we see this trend extending well into the future.

The basis of this success can be simply stated: We want to establish and maintain enduring international partnerships with governments and advanced technology companies in Asia, and to be seen as the international partner of choice.

Our partnering also includes providing opportunities within the Lockheed Martin organization. We employ more than 50,000 scientists and engineers. Many of those talented men and women come to us from the Asia-Pacific region, fully prepared by its great academic institutions and ready to serve with distinction on some of our most technically challenging programs.

I regard this award as a symbol of our long-standing commitment to Asia and its people. We at Lockheed Martin look forward to working with our Asian allies in whatever ways we can to maintain the security of the region and promote its economic well-being. I thank you again for this recognition and for the opportunity to be with you this evening.