Lockheed Martin has delivered the 20,000th Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary rocket to the U.S. Army.
With a range of up to 70 kilometers, GMLRS Unitary is an all-weather, precision-strike weapon that can be deployed rapidly, producing pinpoint engagements with minimal collateral damage. The GMLRS rocket is assembled at the company’s production facility in Camden, Ark.
“The 20,000 production milestone is a great achievement, and recognition of the continued relevancy of GMLRS to our U.S. and allied warfighters,” said Lt. Col. T.J. Wright, the U.S. Army’s product manager for Precision Guided Missiles and Rockets. “GMLRS has a bright future as 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. The development of the GMLRS Alternative Warhead will also add a critical area weapon capability to our warfighters who rely on GMLRS to deliver all-weather, 24/7 responsive fires when they need it most.”
“Soldiers and Marines on the ground depend on GMLRS, and we continue to honor that trust by delivering one of the most accurate and reliable precision-strike artillery systems ever produced,” said Scott Arnold, vice president of precision fires in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business. “Our workforce is committed to providing weapon systems that protect our warfighters when it is needed most.”
To date, more than 2,300 of the long-range GMLRS Unitary rounds have been fired by U.S. Army, Marine Corps and British forces in coalition operations, and the rocket has achieved a combat reliability rate of 98 percent.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation’s net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.
