On Friday, the Department of Defense awarded world-largest pure-play defense contractor Lockheed Martin (LMT 1.53%) four separate contracts worth a combined $173.7 million. Among these:
- The biggest win went to Lockheed's Space Systems division, which will receive $105.9 million to provide "logistics support, legacy sustainment, and combined task force support" for the Space Based Infrared Systems project -- at least its fourth such award in the past three months. Work on this contract should be completed by Sept. 30, 2016.
- Lockheed won a second, smaller award for $32.8 million to conduct "special studies, analyses, and reviews for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program." Lockheed will be focusing on solving "engineering and production challenges" and evaluating "cost and schedule risks" arising from efforts to cut costs on the program, which is currently overbudget. This contract has a March 2014 complete date.
- The company's Mission Systems and Sensors division was awarded a sole source, cost-plus-award-fee contract modification worth $24 million, exercising an option to "support advanced concepts initiatives" for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program Office. This contract runs through Dec. 31.
- Finally, and mysteriously, Lockheed won an $11 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, award. An award for what is the question. DOD says only that "the statement of work for this effort is classified."
