Lockheed Martin has received a $30 million Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract to begin producing the transformational Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS). The U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Huntsville, AL, is the contracting agency.

The LRIP-1 contract authorizes the production of 156 GMLRS rockets and other items, including missile trainers, engineering support/services, logistics support, tooling and line start-up activities, technical publications, and training courses designed to teach instructors, operators and maintenance personnel how to use and integrate GMLRS rockets. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in March 2004.

GMLRS is an all-weather, precision-guided rocket that provides increased accuracy, thus reducing the number of rockets necessary to defeat current targets by 80 percent. The GMLRS rocket, viewed as transformational because of its increased precision and maneuverability, finished a 48-month System Development and Demonstration phase in December 2002 after successfully completing Production Qualification Flight Testing. The U.S. Army is planning to produce more than 100,000 GMLRS rockets.

"Guided MLRS is a priority for the U.S. Army and we are committed to delivering this system to warfighters on schedule and on budget. The Army and our international partners will receive a highly accurate precision munition that meets all the requirements of the Objective Force," said Ron Abbott, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's vice president - Tactical Missiles.

The GMLRS rocket program is an international cooperative program between the U.S., U.K., Italy, France and Germany. Production under this LRIP contract will take place at Lockheed Martin's facility in Camden, Ark.

GMLRS is an Objective Force system with a range of more than 70 kilometers. The system incorporates a GPS-aided inertial guidance package integrated on a product-improved rocket body. Small canards on the guided rocket nose provide basic maneuverability and enhance the accuracy of the system.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and integrates world-class air defense, fire support, strike weapon, naval munition, combat vision, anti-armor and advanced product solutions and systems for U.S. and international armed forces.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit:

www.lockheedmartin.com

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Corporation