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Lockheed Martin Successfully Conducts First Production Qualification Tests of Guided MLRS Unitary Rocket

DALLAS, TX, June 13th, 2005 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully conducted the first two production qualification flight tests of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary rockets recently at White Sands Missile Range, NM.

Test objectives for the first flight test included demonstrating the GMLRS Unitary rocket in the point detonate mode at medium range. The second test included demonstrating a hot conditioned three-round ripple fire of the GMLRS Unitary rocket in delay mode at medium range. The GMLRS Unitary warhead has a tri-mode fuze, which allows airburst, point-impact and delay modes for penetrator capability. These were the first production qualification tests of the GMLRS Unitary Rocket built in Camden, AR.

“These missions were the first Army man-in-the-cab launches of the GMLRS Unitary rocket,” said Al Duchesne, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s director of MLRS Rocket Programs. “This test demonstrated the Army’s ability to fire a GMLRS Unitary production round against a tactical target, and provided a tactical demonstration of the total system.”

Guided MLRS Unitary integrates a 196-pound unitary warhead into the GMLRS rocket, giving battlefield commanders the ability to attack targets up to 70 kilometers away with high precision. This low-cost, low-risk program will greatly reduce collateral damage by providing enhanced accuracy to ensure delivery of the warhead to the target.

Lockheed Martin received a $119 million contract to conduct System Development and Demonstration (SDD) for a GMLRS variant with a single warhead in October 2003. The SDD contract includes 86 rockets, 71 of which are flight articles, with the balance supporting test and other activities. The contract also provides test hardware to support 26 flight tests for an initial configuration and 39 flight tests of a follow-on configuration.

The SDD phase of this program was preceded by a successful system demonstration in 2002 of a Quick Reaction Unitary Rocket and a nine-month Component Advanced Development program. The Guided Unitary SDD program will continue through 2007.

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