Lockheed Martin signs SSN to build quartet

The US based aeronautics defence contractor Lockheed Martin signed up state-owned Polish shipbuilder Stocznia Szczecinska Nowa (SSN) to build four ships by 2008 as part of an offset deal concerning Poland?s purchase of US F-16 fighter jets.

In the first stage of the project, SSN will build two container ships valued at a total of $80 million for delivery in 2007. The second stage includes the construction of two more ships in 2007 and 2008.

Lockheed Martin has started or completed contracts worth some $1.14 billion as part of an offset package tied to Poland?s purchase of $3.5 billion of Lockheed?s F-16 fighter jets. The Polish government?s offset committee has accepted nine contracts worth $517.9 million and the remaining contracts are under review.