Lockheed Martin has received $45 million from the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command for the purchase of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Block IA Unitary missiles. These missiles will include the recently qualified new guidance, control and fuze systems.

Work on the contract will be conducted at the company's facilities in Dallas and Horizon City, TX. Delivery of the missiles is scheduled for 2006.

The ATACMS Block IA Unitary Missile was combat proven in joint operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is the latest addition to the current ATACMS family of munitions. The government furnishes a proven unitary warhead, which Lockheed Martin integrates into new ATACMS Block IA missiles, for precision attack out to 300 kilometers. The ATACMS Unitary variant provides the capability to attack high-payoff, time sensitive targets with limited collateral damage.

"This improved variant of the battle-proven ATACMS gives the U.S. Army the capability to engage enemy targets in urban and mountainous terrains while minimizing the possibility of unintended collateral damage," said Ron Abbott, vice president - Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "This missile is extremely accurate, and will reduce the number of munitions necessary to defeat targets."

The ATACMS Unitary missile is a responsive, all weather, long-range missile, with a high explosive, single burst warhead fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) family of launchers, including the MLRS M270A1 launcher and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

This spiral development program includes plans to develop a multi-mode warhead with three fuze options, which will provide the capability to attack target sets of the current variants as well as hard targets. This phase of the program is expected to begin in FY06.

"Lockheed Martin is committed to meeting the needs of our customers. We are proud of our outstanding record of never missing a delivery date for any variant of the ATACMS missile," Abbott said. "Over the history of the program we have delivered hundreds of missiles to the U.S. Army on time and on budget.

We are committed to continuing this stellar record."

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin