Lockheed Martin gets contract to build GMLRS rockets, warheads

Houston-based Lockheed Martin was awarded a $227 million contract from the U.S. Army for Lot 10 production of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary, and the first production order for GMLRS Alternative Warheads.

"GMLRS is a combat-proven, precision-strike system," Ken Musculus, vice president of tactical missiles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said. "We are confident that the new GMLRS Alternative Warhead will also provide reliable, highly accurate capability for our domestic and international customers."

Included in the contract is a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale of GMLRS Unitary rockets to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

GMLRS is an all-weather rocket designed for fast deployment that delivers precision strikes beyond the reach of most conventional weapons. GMLRS Unitary rockets greatly exceed the required combat reliability rate and have established a reputation for affordability.

The Alternative Warhead is designed to engage the same target set and achieve the same area-effects requirement as the old MLRS submunition warheads, but without the lingering danger of unexploded ordnance. Production on MLRS rockets with submunition warheads ended approximately seven years ago.

In combat operations, each GMLRS rocket is packaged in an MLRS launch pod and is fired from the Lockheed Martin HIMARS or M270 family of launchers. GMLRS customers include the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, U.K., Japan, Jordan, Singapore, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates
.