Work on the contract will be performed at the company's facilities in Camden, AR, and Grand Prairie, TX, and is scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2008.

"These awards exemplify the maturity of these technologies and the immediate need for these systems in the Global War on Terrorism," said Rick Edwards, vice president � Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "HIMARS and precision munitions such as GMLRS are much needed systems for the future combat forces."

HIMARS can accommodate the entire family of Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) munitions, including all variants of the Guided MLRS rocket and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. Designed to enable troops to engage and defeat artillery, air defense concentrations, trucks, light armor and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations, HIMARS can move away from the area at high speed following missile launch, well before enemy forces are able to locate the launch site.

Because of its C-130 transportability, HIMARS can be deployed into areas previously inaccessible to heavier launchers and provides a force multiplier to the modular brigade. It also incorporates the self-loading, autonomous features that have made MLRS the premier rocket artillery system in the world. HIMARS carries a single six-pack of MLRS rockets, or one ATACMS missile. Its fire control system, electronics and communications units are interchangeable with the existing MLRS M270A1 launcher, and the crew and training are the same. HIMARS prototypes were successfully employed in Operations Iraqi Freedom.

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