US Army awards Lockheed Martin $445m GMLRS contract
Lockheed Martin has received a $445 million follow-on contract for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Unitary rockets from the US Army Aviation & Missile Command. This is the US Army's sixth purchase of the precision munition, with almost 2,000 GMLRS rockets fired in support of US and allied military operations to date.
The contract includes 735 GMLRS Unitary rocket pods (six rockets per pod) and 508 Reduced-Range Practice Rocket pods for the US Army and US Marine Corps, as well as GMLRS pods for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers including Japan, Jordan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Specific numbers of rocket pods for the FMS customers were not disclosed. Work on the contract will be performed at the company's facilities in Camden, Ark., and Dallas,Texas. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in December 2012.
"Our enemies fear the precision that GMLRS delivers," said Lt. Col. Drew Clanton, the GMLRS Product Manager at the US Army's Precision Fires, Rockets and Missiles program management office in Huntsville, Ala. "US forces can increase their standoff distances without losing accuracy, which is paramount to our efforts to destroy threats while limiting collateral damage."
GMLRS provides dependable precision strike, a capability demonstrated currently in Afghanistan, and continues to exceed operational-readiness requirements.
"GMLRS continues to be one of the most powerful and precise assets for artillery today," said Scott Arnold, vice president for Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Its heavy use in combat shows our customers trust GMLRS because it's reliable and delivers incredible precision, enabling faster and more effective missions."
The GMLRS Unitary rocket is successfully meeting the needs of the US Army, US Marine Corps and British Army artillery units in theater. The program also is looking ahead to meet evolving customer requirements by testing new technology in their IRAD-funded GMLRS+ program, which will integrate advanced capabilities that will keep GMLRS the world's premier long-range precision artillery rocket.
Designed specifically for destroying high-priority targets at ranges up to 70 kilometers, GMLRS has been employed in both urban and non-urban environments. It is an all-weather, rapidly deployable, long-range rocket that delivers precision strike beyond the range of most conventional weapons. Each GMLRS missile is packaged in a MLRS launch pod and is fired from the MLRS Family of Launchers.
Source: Lockheed Martin
More from Land Warfare
-
US Army to receive Oshkosh’s next-gen autonomy-ready trucks by December
The company recently announced a new US$95 million order for the Palletized Load System A2 under the FHTV V agreement.
-
How the US Marine Corps “increased” Marines’ shooting accuracy by 99%
The new small arms training approach includes the use of data and simulation capabilities, as well as more realistic environments.
-
Lockheed nets $4.9 billion US Army contract to build more precision strike missiles
The PrSM missiles, known as Increment 1 weapon systems, will eventually replace the US Army’s Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).
-
US Army to field first human-machine platoon in two years
The Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office plans to deploy armoured and infantry platoon configurations around FY2027.
-
Avalon 2025: Hanwha signs engine deal with Penske for Redback IFVs
Penske Australia will also carry out local assembly and testing of Allison X1100 series cross-drive transmission under licence using kits supplied by South Korea's SNT Dynamics.
-
Ovzon trials UGV comms in Arctic conditions
Swedish company showcases Arctic UGV test as it eyes NATO defence market expansion.