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
-
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans
The Russia–Ukraine war has continued to be the place the world’s militaries have been watching for lessons on both the EW and uncrewed front. Its conventional war aspect, however, has also been catching the attention of leaders.
-
The Philippines looks to Israel for military equipment amid South China Sea tensions
The southeast Asian country has been enhancing its military readiness by procuring advanced Israeli defence platforms and systems.
-
NSPA signs new helmet system framework deal and agreement for C-UAS systems
The Caiman helmet has been designed to be scalable for dynamic operations with mission-specific accessories and can incorporate electronics, communications headsets and other critical equipment.
-
US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years
The reduction would impact several acquisition and development programmes, creating capabilities gaps in US missile defence architecture.
-
Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has fast-tracked the development of the Arrow-4 ballistic missile interceptor in response to recent Iranian ballistic missile attacks.