Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas has received two contracts totaling $84 million for Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers for the Republic of Korea. The U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting agency. Launcher production will take place at the company's Camden, Ark., facility.

Initial delivery of MLRS M270 launchers is scheduled to begin in September 2002, with consecutive monthly deliveries to follow through to completion in June 2003.

MLRS is the world's most formidable rocket and missile artillery system. Its surface-to-surface ballistic rockets have a range of 28 miles (45 kilometers). A single MLRS launcher can put more than two tons of destructive firepower on a target in one minute and its full load of 12 rockets can cover 30 to 60 acres with thousands of grenade-like submunitions. Each of the submunitions in an MLRS rocket has about the same destructive power as a hand grenade and contains a shaped charge that allows it to penetrate light armor.

MLRS launchers and rockets are now in the inventories of the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Bahrain, Japan, Norway, Denmark, the Republic of Korea, Israel, Turkey and Greece.

Located in Dallas, Tex.; Orlando, Fla.; and Sunnyvale, Calif., Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems. The company is organized in seven program/mission areas: Strike Weapons, Air Defense, Anti-Armor, Naval Munitions, Fire Control and Sensors, Fire Support and Product Development

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics and technology services.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin, visit http://www.lockheedmartin.com/.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas