INDUSTRY

At I/ITSEC 2003, SGI today announced that Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has purchased four SGI(R) Onyx(R) 3000 series high-performance graphics supercomputers for use in the next four F-16 Mission Training Center (MTC) pilot training systems for the U.S. Air Force. Also announced today, under a separate contract from Lockheed Martin, SGI is providing SGI(R) Onyx(R) 350 visualization systems, plus communications and networking integration, to develop F-16 Block 60 flight simulators using specialized video displays. The $2 million dollar F-16 pilot training systems deal, secured by SGI in October, will increase the number of SGI Onyx 3000 based F-16 MTC pilot training systems from 10 to 14. The Onyx 3000 series graphics supercomputers performing image generation provide highly realistic and precise simulation of the multi-role functions that F-16 fighter aircraft perform in combat missions. In addition to the four SGI Onyx 3000 supercomputers -- each with seven graphics pipes -- the company will deliver an SGI(R) InfiniteStorage TP9100 disk array, two SGI(R) Origin(R) 3000 family supercomputers, as well as Silicon Graphics(R) Octane2(TM) and Silicon Graphics(R) O2(R) visual workstations. These extremely reliable and high-performance systems form the majority of the computational components of the F-16 training simulators. SGI Professional Services will build and integrate the systems at Lockheed Martin, before they are shipped to their designated Air Force bases around the world. This order from Lockheed Martin will field SGI Onyx 3000 series image- generators in four level C F-16 MTC pilot training systems. Each of these simulation systems supports air-to-air and air-to-ground training scenarios in a 360-degree environment with high-fidelity geospecific databases and high- resolution visual cues. Level-C MTCs also include briefing/debriefing systems, threat stations, a weapons controller system and a mission observation center where the training mission can be watched as it takes place. "SGI Onyx 3000 visualization systems have the power and real-time visualization capability to concurrently process imagery, video, 3D terrain and geospatial data, meeting the demanding needs of customers like the U.S. Air Force," said Charles McCoy, F-16 MTC program director for Lockheed Martin in Akron, OH. The U.S. Air Force currently trains F-16 pilots in MTCs at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Each F-16 flight simulator within an MTC can be networked together through Air Combat Command's Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) program. "The SGI Onyx 3000 series image generators continue to deliver revolutionary dimensions of realism and the scaleable data compute power required to generate the highest resolution photo-specific imagery and physical environment required to meet the military's training needs," said Steve Detro, SGI's Senior Manager of Business Development for DoD and Intelligence Programs. "We are honored to continue to contribute to this dramatic advancement in flight simulation and to provide increased safety and training realism for U.S. Air Force pilots." SGI Onyx 350 Visualization Systems for New F-16 Block 60 Cockpit Training A separate flight simulator contract awarded to SGI in Q4 FY03 by Lockheed Martin is an $800,000 package of hardware, integration and networking services. While the Air Force F-16 MTC's are full, "out-the-window" flight simulators, this project called upon SGI to provide host hardware as well as serial communications and networking integration services. The SGI Onyx 350 visualization system displays both interior cockpit controls and instrumentation -- using the latest, most advanced F-16 cockpit known as Block 60 -- as well as specialized training videos. Consisting of four SGI Onyx 350 visualization systems offering SGI's flexible frame-buffering graphics hardware, the four flight simulators have an unusual and challenging requirement: 16 input/output serial connectors from each cockpit to each host computer were needed to accommodate the various specialized displays, as well as integrate with commercial off-the-shelf products. SGI Professional Services has developed this capability using a number of products the company sells and distributes; they also ensure the SGI-based system supports other subcontractors' products. "Lockheed Martin chose SGI for their flexible graphics architecture and high-performance compute capabilities. This architecture enables the system to scale to the 16 graphics pipes that deliver the various visuals and data at the speeds they require, something not many vendors would want to tackle," said Eric Kana, systems engineer, SGI Professional Services. "Given the complex nature of the integration, we were also chosen for our expertise, because we research and test, and make sure our system will talk the various languages, bit- and byte-wise, to other system components. We are very pleased to be chosen by Lockheed Martin to help develop this system, which will greatly enhance pilot training." The four SGI Onyx 350 systems have already been delivered and, as networking and integration continues, SGI's flexible graphics architecture is already delivering the various video formats needed, at the required speeds.