US Army to spend $4.79 billion on Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System production

News, US April 30, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States Army has awarded defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin a $4.79 billion contract for full-rate production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and associated equipment.

The military contract requires the GMLRS Unitary and Alternative Warhead (AW) rockets and integrated logistics support for the U.S. Army and its international partners.

Vice president of Precision Fires for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Jay Price said, “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.”

Price added, “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.”

GMLRS is an all-weather precision strike rocket with a range exceeding that of typical conventional weapons and can be rapidly deployed. The GMLRS can be fired from both the MLRS M270 family of launchers and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers. The Guided MLRS rockets have a reliability rating exceeding 98 percent.

According to the Lockheed Martin statement, the GMLRS “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 production of the GMLRS rockets will be performed at the Lockheed Martin facilities in Camden, Arkansas; Dallas and Lufkin, Texas; Archbald, Pennsylvania and Orlando, Florida, and the rocket systems are expected to be completed in 2026. Lockheed Martin has already produced more than 60,000 rounds and working at a 10,000 rounds per year production capacity.

*^{Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

During October and November 2022, the U.S. Army awarded several contract options worth $520.8 million for GMLRS to restock the Department of Defense inventory and supply weapons to Ukraine. The United States has been the largest weapons supplier to Ukraine since the Russian invasion started in February 2022. U.S. Army has provided anti-missile systems and aerial defense equipment from its own stockpiles which led to the need for replenishment.

Lockheed Martin is one of the several U.S.-based defense contractors that have been actively trying to keep up with the supplies amid the ongoing Ukraine war. HIMARS and GMLRS are playing a key role in Ukraine against Russia’s aerial attacks.

Separately on April 28, 2023, U.S. Army also awarded Lockheed Martin a $615 million full-rate production contract to manufacture additional HIMARS launchers and associated equipment.

Vice president of Tactical Missiles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Paula Hartley said, “The increased demand for our Precision Fires products, like HIMARS and GMLRS, demonstrates the significant impact these game changing capabilities are having for our customers”. Hartley added, “We are proud to partner with the Army as they move forward with unprecedented speed and agility to meet the urgent need and deliver these systems.”