Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control has been awarded a contract for maintenance of Army tactical guided missiles and launch assembly service by the U.S. Army. The $364 million firm-fixed-price domestic and foreign military sales contract was announced on Thursday by the Department of Defense. It also covers tactical missile sales to Romania.
The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATacMS) is a surface-to-surface missile (SSM) manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin. It has a range of over 160 kilometres (100 mi), with solid propellant, and is 4.0 metres (13 ft) high and 610 millimetres (24 in) in diameter. The ATACMS can be fired from multiple rocket launchers, including the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), and M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). An ATACMS launch container has a lid patterned with six circles like a standard MLRS rocket lid. The first use of the ATACMS in a combat capability was during Operation Desert Storm, where a total of 32 were fired from the M270 MLRS. During the Operation Iraqi Freedom more than 450 missiles were fired. As of early 2015, over 560 ATACMS missiles had been fired in combat.
The contract announced Thursday calls for work to be performed in 10 U.S. cities, with a completion date of February 2020. Research, development, test and evaluation, foreign military sales, overseas contingency operation and aircraft procurement funds in the combined amount of $145 million from fiscal years 2017 and 2018 were obligated at the time of the award.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) is one of four Lockheed Martin business areas. MFC is a recognized designer, developer and manufacturer of precision engagement aerospace and defense systems for the U.S. and allied militaries. MFC develops, manufactures and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket, manned and unmanned systems for military customers that include the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, NASA and dozens of foreign allies. MFC also offers a wide range of products and services for the global civil nuclear power industry and the military’s green power initiatives. MFC has five principal product categories that correspond to the vital capabilities it provides our warfighters and civilian customers in their defining moments. MFC pursues business in more than 50 countries with more than 50 product and service lines.
