Lockheed Martin awarded part of $499 mln U.S. defense contract -Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Top U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin was named on Thursday as one of six companies that will share a $499 million contract for research into aerospace systems aimed at developing new technologies and capabilities, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon said Lockheed was the third company to be awarded work under the previously announced contract. The work will be performed at the firm's Fort Worth, Texas, facility and is expected to be completed by 2025, the Pentagon said.

(Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Eric Beech)