PORTLAND, Ore., July 18 -- Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. have tentatively selected FLIR Systems Inc. to provide thermal imaging systems for the US Coast Guard's Deepwater Project. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are working together as a joint venture called the Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) team as a possible solution to provide thermal imaging systems for the project. The award of this program to the ICGS team was announced by the Department of Transportation June 25. The Deepwater Project is a 40 year, multibillion dollar program to renovate, modernize and in some cases replace the Coast Guard's fleet of 93 ships and 206 aircraft. It involves developing and deploying an integrated system of surface and air command and control communications incorporating computers, surveillance, reconnaissance and logistics systems, including at least one thermal imaging system on each vessel and aircraft. FLIR's participation in the Deepwater Project is pending contract negotiations with Lockheed Martin.