Lockheed Martin and Diehl Sign Partnership Agreement with MBDA
DALLAS, TX, June 26th, 2001 -- Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, and Diehl Munitionssysteme GmbH & Co. of N?rnberg, Germany, have signed on a third partner for the production phase of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (Guided MLRS) system. MBDA, a formation of Matra Bae Dynamics, EADS Aerospatiale Matra Missiles and Alenia Marconi Systems, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Euro Rocket System (ERS) GmbH Joint Venture (a 50:50 partnership between Lockheed Martin and Diehl) during the Paris Air Show to establish a European Prime Contractor for the production phase of the Guided MLRS rocket transatlantic, cooperative program. ERS was established in June 1999 to conduct MLRS-related business in Europe.
The new extended ERS company will work with FiatAvio to establish an industrial team, representing all five of the operating countries.
The Guided MLRS rocket is the next major step in the evolution of the MLRS Family of Munitions, offering advanced capabilities, reduced logistics support and precision attack. The rocket will have a range of approximately 60 kilometers.
The requirements for longer-range rocket artillery have induced the governments of the U.S., France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom to move forward with the cooperative development of the Guided MLRS rocket. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is the prime contractor for Guided MLRS rockets in the United States.
The ERS expects to supply Guided MLRS into Europe beginning in 2005.
Lockheed Martin and Diehl worked closely together during the formation of ERS to structure an organization that will provide enhanced products and services to both current and future customers. Diehl has performed final assembly for all European produced MLRS rockets, just as Lockheed Martin has done for MLRS launchers and rockets produced for the U.S. Government.
Located in Dallas; Orlando, Florida; and Sunnyvale, Calif., Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems. The company is organized in seven program/mission areas: Strike Weapons, Air Defense, Anti-Armor, Naval Munitions, Fire Control and Sensors, Fire Support and Product Development.
Diehl Stiftung & Co. is a 100 percent family-owned industrial group internationally active in various civic and defense business divisions, including Metal, Watches and Clocks, Controls, Equipment, Ammunition and Aerospace. Important products in the defense-oriented divisions mainly relate to conventional and intelligent munitions, missiles, fuses and tank tracks, as well as repair and maintenance. With a workforce of 12,600 and sales of more than DM 3 billion, Diehl's industrial activities primarily cover process engineering, product development and large-scale series production.
Craig Vanbebber, 972-603-1615
e-mail craig.vanbebber@lmco.com
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