CASE STUDIES

• Lockheed Martin UK
• Somar
• Watson-Marlow Bredel Pumps Ltd
• Zoeftig

REPORTS

• The New Entrepeneurs

Advanced Engineering & Aerospace

"It's a great advantage to have such a well-developed skills base locally."

Lockheed Martin is prime contractor and systems integrator for the sophisticated multi-mission helicopter, the Merlin Mk1, flown by members of the specially formed 700M Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. Since then, three other dedicated Merlin squadrons have been formed. Here, the company has established a £170 million training suite for Merlin pilots which features some of world's most advanced flight simulators.

The large base on the Lizard Peninsula just outside Helston is also home to Lockheed Martin's extensive logistics support operation, the Merlin Helicopter Support and Spares Availability System (MSSAS), a contract worth £445 million. This uses a network of IT systems to keep track of thousands of spares and repairs, making sure that the helicopters stay in optimum flying condition 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Aerospace companies don't come much bigger than Lockheed Martin, which employs some 130,000 people worldwide with sales in the billions.  Its British arm is a leader in systems integration and enjoys more than 75 significant business partnerships in the UK.