More GLRS rockets for U.S., others

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DALLAS, July 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has given Lockheed Martin a follow-on contract for the seventh production lot of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Unitary rockets.

The GMLRS can strike targets from as far as 44 miles.

Lockheed Martin said rockets from this production lot will be supplied to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps and to the armies of Italy, Jordan and Singapore.

Deliveries under the contract -- worth $353.2 million -- are to begin in December of next year.

"GMLRS continues to be the long-range, precision-fire weapon of choice when commanders need to decisively and accurately attack high-value targets while minimizing the risk of collateral damage," said Lt. Col. T.J. Wright, the U.S. Army's product manager for Precision Guided Missiles and Rockets.

"This contract award will result in the delivery of a critical capability to our warfighters who rely on GMLRS to deliver all-weather, 24/7 responsive fires when they need it most."

Added Scott Arnold, vice president of precision fires in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business: "U.S. and allied forces have fired more than 2,200 of these precision munitions in support of military operations. Our warfighters depend on GMLRS daily, and that intensifies our commitment to provide the most reliable, most effective weapon system possible."

Lockheed said it is developing a longer range -- nearly 75 miles -- GMLRS rocket at its own expense.