BAE's Paladin work moves to Oklahoma

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ELGIN, Okla., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- BAE Systems is expanding its work at Elgin, Okla., to complete low-rate initial production of the Paladin Integrated Management self-propelled howitzer system.

The U.S. Army's PIM LRIP award, slated for the third quarter in 2013, follows successful design and development work at BAE Systems' York, Pa., facility and recent user tests in Arizona.

BAE Systems said that as part of the PIM LRIP program, employees at the Elgin facility will complete final integration, assembly and testing of 72 PIM systems -- including vehicle chassis -- for the 155mm weapon.

The company's facility is in the Fort Sill Industrial Park, home of the U.S. Army field artillery.

"This is a great opportunity for the company to work even closer with the Artillery Center of Excellence and local industry in the Elgin-Lawton area," said Mark Signorelli, vice president and general manager of vehicle systems at BAE Systems.

"Being this close to Fort Sill allows us to access a highly skilled and experienced artillery workforce, while enabling a time and cost-saving transition of the PIM vehicles from production to verification."