The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a Not-to-Exceed $4.79 billion contract to manufacture two full-rate production lots of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and associated equipment. The contract calls for the production of GMLRS Unitary and Alternative Warhead (AW) rockets and integrated logistics support for the U.S. Army and international partners. Work will be performed at the Lockheed Martin facilities in Camden, Arkansas; Dallas and Lufkin, Texas; Archbald, Pennsylvania and Orlando, Florida, and will be completed in 2026.
“We are working closely with our Army customer and supply chain partners, who are moving with unprecedented speed, to ramp production capacity supporting the urgent need for this highly-reliable, combat-proven rocket. We’re seeing an increase in demand for this versatile rocket because GMLRS provides strategic advantage, unmatched accuracy and it’s cost-effective. It’s the right round for many missions,” said Jay Price, vice president of Precision Fires for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) is an all-weather rocket designed for fast deployment that delivers precision strike beyond the reach of most conventional weapons. The munition is the primary round for the Lockheed Martin produced HIMARS and M270 MLRS family of launchers and features a Global Positioning System (GPS) aided inertial guidance package and small maneuvering canards on the rocket nose,which add maneuverability to enhance the accuracy of the system.
The M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is an American-developed armored, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher. The U.S. Army variant of the MLRS vehicle is based on the chassis of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a light multiple rocket launcher developed in the late 1990s for the United States Army and mounted on a standard United States Army Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) truck frame.
