The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for M299 Launchers with a total value of $25.9 million. This contract provides M299 All Up Launchers (AULs) and spare parts support for the U.S. Army and international customers. The M299 Launcher provides an affordable multi-platform, multi-mission capability for the HELLFIRE and Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). It operates in severe flight environments, with a digital design that allows interface with a variety of platforms. The M299 Launcher has the unique ability to recognize and fire all HELLFIRE variants and JAGM in any sequence plausible.
Lockheed Martin produces the electronic components for the M299 Launcher at its facilities in Ocala, Fla. and Archbald, Pa. Marvin Engineering in Inglewood, Calif. performs final assembly and test. This contract update will extend M299 Launcher activities in Ocala, Archbald and Inglewood until 2025. The M299 Launcher has been successfully integrated on to the AH-64D, AH-64E, Seahawk, Cobra, Tigre and numerous other platforms for U.S. and international customers. With more than 6,000 M299 Launchers currently delivered, it is currently in-service with 29 customers and has an exceeded specified operational reliability of 99% per mission.
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an air-to-ground missile (AGM) first developed for anti-armor use, later developed for precision drone strikes against other target types, especially high-value targets. It was originally developed under the name Heliborne laser, fire-and-forget missile, which led to the colloquial name “Hellfire” ultimately becoming the missile’s formal name. It has a multi-mission, multi-target precision-strike ability and can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms, including the Predator drone. The Hellfire II, developed in the early 1990s is a modular missile system with several variants.
The AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) is an American military program to develop an air-to-surface missile to replace the current air-launched BGM-71 TOW, AGM-114 Hellfire, and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. The U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps plan to buy thousands of JAGMs. JAGM incorporates a guidance section capable of precision point targeting using a Semi Active Laser (SAL) sensor, fire and forget targeting using Millimeter Wave (MMW) radar, and a targeting capability that leverages both radar and laser targeting capabilities. JAGM leverages the fielded and combat proven HELLFIRE II Romeo (AGM-114R) propulsion, warhead and control sections.
