Lockheed Martin has been contracted by the U. S. Defense Department to provide analytical and technical support to help a counter improvised explosive devices program.

It received two task orders from the Defense Department to support the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, U. S. defense company Lockheed Martin has said.

Bob Kramer, Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services-Defense vice president for Operational Systems and Services said in a statement, "We are dedicated to JIEDDO, its mission of defeating IEDs and ultimately, saving lives."

It was also reported that the Defense Department established JIEDDO as part of a mission critical initiative to counter the evolving threat of roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices set by militants in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lockheed Martin, under the approximately $460 million in funding, will work with JIEDDO in Northern Virginia and in the Central Command area of responsibility providing operational and intelligence operations with technical and analytical support among other requirements. (With Inputs from Agencies)