Lockheed produces first GMLRS warhead at Camden manufacturing plant
by September 12, 2016 3:42 pm 287 views
Defense giant Lockheed Martin announced Monday (Sept. 12) that the first Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead rocket has rolled off the production line at company’s industrial manufacturing facility in Camden, Ark.
GMLRS is an all-weather rocket designed for fast deployment that delivers precision strike beyond the reach of most conventional weapons. The new GMLRS Alternative Warhead (AW) was the first munition developed to service area targets without the effects of unexploded ordinance, complying with DoD cluster munitions policy.
In June, Lockheed Martin officials said the nation’s largest defense contractor had received a $331.8 million contract from the U.S. Army for Lot 11 production of GMLRS rockets with most of the work to performed at the defense giant’s industrial manufacturing facilities in Camden and Dallas.
The contract calls for the production of GMLRS Alternative Warhead rockets, GMLRS Unitary rockets and Reduced-Range Practice Rockets (RRPRs) for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps. Foreign military sales of the warhead will also be made to allies in Israel, Finland, Jordan and Singapore, and all production deliveries are anticipated to be completed by March 2018, officials said.
According to Pentagon and Lockheed Martin officials, GMLRS Unitary rockets greatly exceed the required combat reliability rate and have established a reputation for affordability. The RRPR allows users to train with realistic, full-motored rockets with limited flight range, making them ideal for smaller testing ranges.
“GMLRS Alternative Warhead rockets are all-weather, time-critical, rapidly deployable guided munitions that return precision area-effects capability to the battlefield commander,” said Ken Musculus, vice president of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This first GMLRS Alternative Warhead round coming off our Camden Operations production line represents another example of Lockheed Martin’s commitment to constantly evolve the MLRS family of munitions to meet the ever-changing requirements of our customers.”
Lockheed Martin received the initial production contract from the U.S. Army for GMLRS Alternative Warheads in June 2015. In combat operations, each GMLRS rocket is packaged in an MLRS launch pod and is fired from the Lockheed Martin HIMARS or M270 family of launchers.
GMLRS was established as an international cooperative program among the U.S., France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Other international customers include Japan, Bahrain, Finland, Israel, Jordan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.