Lockheed Martin contract to produce Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems for US Army


According to a contract published by the United States Department of Defense on March 26, 2021, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $2,765,714,054 hybrid contract for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead rocket pods, GMLRS Unitary Warhead rocket pods, Low-Cost Reduced Range Practice rocket pods, cybersecurity services, integrated product support, and other services.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link


Army Recognition Global Defense and Security news
U.S. Army M270 MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System fires a Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System.  (Picture source U.S. DoD)


The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) is guided ammunition that can be launched by the MLRS M270 family of launchers and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.

The Guided MLRS AW round was the first ammunition developed to service area targets without the effects of unexploded ordnance, complying with the U.S. Department of Defense cluster munitions policy and international policies. The AW variant has a range exceeding 70 kilometers and delivers a 200-pound class fragmenting warhead.

A total of 6 Guided MLRS rockets can be carrier per launch pod, with 2 pods carried by the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System based on tracked vehicle and 1 pod carried by the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) using a 6x6 FMTV truck chassis.

The combat proven Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is a 227mm rocket artillery system manufactured by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. The system is operational in the US Army, and fourteen countries have fielded or ordered MLRS: Bahrain, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, The Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and United Kingdom.

The M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a multiple rocket launcher system mounted to a 6x6 FMTV truck chassis. HIMARS was developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control under an advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) program, placed in 1996. The purpose of HIMARS is to engage and defeat artillery, air defense concentrations, trucks, light armor and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations.