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Lockheed Martin's Guided MLRS Receives U.S. Army Approval to Enter Production

Guided Unitary Version Selected for Spiral Development

DALLAS, TX, March 24th, 2003 -- Lockheed Martin's Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) has received approval from the U.S. Army to enter Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP). The GMLRS program finished a 48-month System Development and Demonstration phase in December 2002 after successfully completing Production Qualification Flight Testing. GMLRS will offer transformational soldiers extremely accurate fire support for engaging and defeating cannon and rocket artillery, air defense concentrations, trucks, light armor and personnel carriers. The U.S. Army is planning to produce more than 100,000 GMLRS rockets.

Additionally, the Guided Unitary version of the GMLRS has received approval from the U.S. Army to move into Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD). The program will utilize spiral development to improve the standard GMLRS by incorporating a 200+ pound, high-explosive warhead into the rocket. The program successfully completed an initial flight demonstration in August 2002, funded by Lockheed Martin's internal research and development.

"The GMLRS and the Guided Unitary variants will provide the Army with highly accurate precision munitions that can deliver advanced capabilities with reduced logistics support," said Ron Abbott, Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control's vice president of Tactical Missiles. "Because of their precise accuracy, fewer rockets will need to be fired at critical targets," he added.

GMLRS is an Objective Force system that incorporates a GPS-aided inertial guidance package integrated on a product-improved rocket body. Small canards on the guided rocket nose provide basic maneuverability and enhance the accuracy of the system. The GMLRS rocket program is an international cooperative program between the U.S., U.K., Italy, France and Germany.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and integrates world-class air defense, fire support, strike weapon, naval munition, combat vision, anti-armor and advanced product solutions and systems for U.S. and international armed forces.

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