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Lockheed Martin Receives $65 Million Contract For High Mobility Artillery Rocket System

DALLAS, TX, January 4th, 2000 -- Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas has been awarded a $65 million contract for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers. The U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command is the contracting agency. The launchers will be produced at the company's facilities in Dallas, Texas, and in Camden, Ark.

The 36-month maturation/engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract calls for the production of six HIMARS launchers for testing and evaluation. Low rate initial production on the HIMARS program is scheduled to begin in FY'03, with the first unit equipped scheduled for FY'05. A Milestone III decision for full-rate production is scheduled for the second quarter of FY'05.

HIMARS is a highly mobile artillery rocket system offering Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) firepower on a wheeled chassis. The C-130 transportable HIMARS can carry a single six-pack of MLRS rockets, or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile, on the Army's new FMTV 5-ton truck.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas developed and fabricated four operational HIMARS prototypes as part the Army's Rapid Force Projection Initiative Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration contract, which was awarded to the company in March of 1996. Three of the wheeled vehicles (a platoon) are in testing at the Army's 18th Airborne Corps Artillery. The fourth vehicle is being maintained by Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas for testing and evaluation.

HIMARS will be able to fire the entire MLRS family of munitions. In August 1999, HIMARS completed a successful series of forced-entry scenarios at Fort Bragg, N.C. At the completion of the exercise, more than 20 Reduced-Range Practice Rockets had been fired.

The HIMARS fire control system, electronics and communications units are interchangeable with the MLRS M270A1 launcher, and the crew and training are the same. Because of its size, HIMARS can be deployed into areas previously inaccessible to the larger aircraft required to transport the standard MLRS launcher. It also retains the self-loading, autonomous features that have made MLRS the premier rocket artillery system in the world.

Located in Dallas and Orlando, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems. The company is organized in six program/mission areas: Strike Weapons, Air Defense, Anti-Armor, Fire Control and Sensors, Fire Support and Product Development.

Craig Vanbebber, 972-603-1615
e-mail craig.vanbebber@lmco.com