LM wins new Hellfire missile contract

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin said Monday it had won a U.S. Army order for more Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles.

Lockheed Martin said in a statement it had "received a $29 million production order from the U.S. Army for the combat-proven precision-strike Hellfire II air-to-ground missile."

"The order represents the final option under the U.S. Army's Hellfire II Buy 13 contract, which at $305.9 million is the largest single buy in the history of the Hellfire II program," the company said.

"The final exercised option for Buy 13 is for 431 rounds, bringing the total number of rounds ordered under the contract to 4,622. The additional rounds are scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, and (Britain) through a foreign military sale, beginning in 2008. The U.S. Army's Buy 14 production order is scheduled to be executed in 2008, with quantities yet to be determined," Lockheed Martin said.

Lockheed Martin said it "performs all work on behalf of the Hellfire Systems, Limited Liability Company and will produce the missiles at its manufacturing facilities in Troy, Ala, and Ocala, Fla."

"This contract reaffirms Hellfire's proven position as the world's premier air-to-ground weapon system," said Ken Musculus, program director, Air-to-Ground Missile Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Capable of launch from multiple platforms and available in three warhead variants, Hellfire II continues its legacy as a highly lethal anti-armor and multi-purpose weapon that defeats a wide range of targets."

"The Buy 13 order will sustain full-rate production through 2010, both in Troy and Ocala. Engineering, logistics and program management support are based in Orlando," the company said.

"The Hellfire II production contract includes three variants: the high-explosive anti-tank missile -- AGM-114K -- used against armored targets; the blast fragmentation missile -- AGM-114M -- effective against ships, caves, light armored vehicles, buildings, bunkers and other urban targets; and the metal augmented charge missile -- AGM-114N -- which provides an enhanced blast fragmentation effect against enclosed structures and enemy combatants," the company said.