Lockheed wins Antarctic support contract

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Infrastructure supporting U.S. scientific research in the Antarctic region will be operated and maintained by Lockheed Martin.

The company said the multiyear contract from the U.S, National Science Foundation in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program is worth about $2 billion if all options are exercised.

The NSF provides logistics and infrastructure for the Antarctic research program, which involves environmental and climate research by universities, government agencies and others.

Lockheed Martin said it will provide and maintain cost-effective infrastructure for managing work stations and medical facilities, research vessels and various construction projects in the region.

"Lockheed Martin is proud to work with more than 3,000 program participants involved in valuable research in Antarctica," said Linda Gooden, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Information Systems and Global Solutions business.

"We have a long-standing history of supporting customers in remote locations and logistically challenging environments and are committed to fostering scientific and technological innovations that will benefit the world."