Lockheed Martin Receives $85 Million to Produce 840 Guided MLRS Rockets for the U.S. Army
DALLAS, TX, March 4th, 2004 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received $85 million from the U.S. Army to produce 840 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets under a Low-Rate Initial Production II (LRIP II) contract.
The GMLRS rocket is the latest addition to the MLRS family of munitions. GMLRS is an all-weather, precision-guided rocket that provides increased accuracy, thus reducing the number of rockets necessary to defeat current targets by as much as 80 percent. GMLRS provides increased precision and maneuverability, and can be fired from both the MLRS M270A1 launcher and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher.
GMLRS is an international cooperative program between the U.S., U.K., Italy, France and Germany. Work on this contract will be conducted at the Lockheed Martin facilities in Dallas, TX, Camden, AR, and Lufkin, TX.
"GMLRS is an excellent example of a spiral development program that will meet the fire support needs of the current and Future Force by building on the combat proven MLRS family of munitions," said Ron Abbott, Lockheed Martin vice president of Tactical Missiles.
The GMLRS program completed a 48-month System Development and Demonstration phase in December 2002 after successfully completing Production Qualification Flight Testing. The U.S. Army is planning to produce more than 100,000 GMLRS rockets. The LRIP I contract for GMLRS was awarded in June 2003.
GMLRS rockets have a range exceeding 70 kilometers. The system 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.
Craig Vanbebber, 972-603-1615
e-mail craig.vanbebber@lmco.com
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
