Lockheed Martin has received a $15.8 million contract from the U.S. Army to provide Increased Crew Protection (ICP) cab development for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

Work on the contract will be performed at the company's facilities in Grand Prairie, TX, and at subcontractor Stewart & Stevenson -- Tactical Vehicles Systems Division (an Armor Holdings, Inc., company) in Sealy, TX. The contract is scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008.

The new ICP cab will undergo development and testing through the end of fiscal year 2008, at which time all future HIMARS production is expected to be equipped with the ICP cab system for enhanced protection.

"We are very pleased to be able to provide the warfighter with increased protection in the HIMARS vehicle," said Rick Edwards, vice president -- Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "The ICP cab will significantly increase HIMARS survivability and effectiveness for the Modular Force."

HIMARS can accommodate the entire family of Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) munitions, including all variants of the Guided MLRS rocket and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. Designed to enable troops to engage and defeat artillery, air defense concentrations, trucks, light armor and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations, HIMARS can move away from the area at high speed following missile launch, well before enemy forces are able to locate the launch site.

Because of its C-130 transportability, HIMARS can be deployed into areas previously inaccessible to heavier launchers and provides a force multiplier to the modular brigade. It also incorporates the self-loading, autonomous features that have made MLRS the premier rocket artillery system in the world.

HIMARS carries a single six-pack of MLRS rockets, or one ATACMS missile. Its fire control system, electronics and communications units are interchangeable with the existing MLRS M270A1 launcher, and the crew and training are the same. HIMARS prototypes were successfully employed in Operations Iraqi Freedom, and HIMARS units are now fielded with U.S. forces in theater in the Middle East.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin