Direct hit for Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin has put a limited number of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) into production for the US Department of Defense, and received $125m order for GMLRS rockets from the US Army.

The GMLRS is an all-weather, guided rocket that Lockheed believes will allow for more on-target hits, which would reduce the number of rockets required by 80 per cent.

According to Lt Col Mark Pincoski, US Army product manager for Precision Guided Missiles and Rockets, the quality of the GMLRS has been proven in the field.

‘We are very pleased that the Guided MLRS Unitary system is performing so well in Iraq,’ he said. ‘GMLRS Unitary is the best field artillery weapon system we have ever fielded.’

A 90.7kg warhead attached to the GMLRS rocket allows targets to be successfully hit from a distance of up to 70km. The warhead can also be configured with a fuse that allows three modes: an airburst mode, which detonates above the target point, a point detonate mode that hits the target point, and a delay mode that impacts below the target point.