Rocket system to get new warhead

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ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A new warhead for the U.S. Army's Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System will be developed by ATK as a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin.

The warhead to be produced as part of the GMLRS engineering, manufacturing design and demonstration phase will be a drop-in replacement for the current warhead and eliminate the use of sub-munitions.

"This new warhead offers the advantage of uncompromised performance without leaving unexploded sub-munitions on the battlefield," said Dave Wise, vice president and general manager of ATK Defense Components.

"We look forward to further development and integration of our improved warhead solution for GMLRS.

"We are also excited to demonstrate that we can adapt our lethality-enhanced ordnance design for other missile, mortar, artillery and air-dropped weapon applications."

ATK's alternative warhead was successfully tested by the Army and the company will now refine the design. Low-rate production will take place at a company facility in West Virginia.