COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Sept. 18, 2014 – The battle command system used by the Marines to manage and monitor airborne platforms, including fighters, bombers, tankers, unmanned aerial vehicles, and helicopters, will be maintained by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT].

Under a contract worth approximately $18 million, Lockheed Martin will upgrade and sustain the USMC’s Virtualized Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS), which interfaces with Joint Services and Coalition systems to enable synchronized air mission planning for all arms of the military. TBMCS enables distributed battle management, which means that the Joint community – Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force – can all contribute to managing the air campaign.

“By automating the way air power is commanded and controlled, TBMCS provides a seamless information flow that shortens decision cycles,” said Dr. Rob Smith, vice president of C4ISR for Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions. “For nearly two decades, we have managed TBMCS. We’ll leverage our years of technical experience to ensure that the system remains aligned to the Marines’ overall mission.”

Lockheed Martin will ensure that TBMCS provides faster access to real-time operations information; better planning and collaboration tools; and enhanced situational awareness while dramatically reducing sustainment costs. This includes providing updates for approximately 200 integrated software applications – from large planning tools to smaller “plug-in” applets that allow force status monitoring.

The team will also maintain airspace deconfliction applications, which support coordination of precision engagement fires. Additionally, Lockheed Martin will update the automated tools that generate, disseminate, and execute the air tasking and airspace control orders for the USMC.

Used at locations throughout the world, TBMCS allows the Marines to plan, direct and control theater air operations, and to coordinate their activities with ground and Air Force elements.