Article Posted on : - Aug 16, 2017

ATACMS Block IA Unitary. Photo: Lockheed Martin

DALLAS (BNS): Lockheed Martin has received a $161 million contract for production of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile for the US Army.

The contract calls for the production of 150 ATACMS missiles as part of the ATACMS Service Life Extension Program.

"The ATACMS Service Life Extension Program takes existing missiles and refurbishes them, resetting their shelf life," said Scott Greene, vice president of Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

"ATACMS provides the combatant commanders with critical, deep-strike capability to service high-value targets in all weather conditions."

As part of the US Army's ATACMS Service Life Extension Program, the modernization process disassembles and demilitarizes ATACMS Block 1 and 1A warheads, replacing them with new unitary warheads. The process also resets the missile's 10+ year shelf life, a Lockheed statement said.

ATACMS is the US Army's only tactical long-range precision strike surface-to-surface weapon system. ATACMS missiles can be fired from the entire family of Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers.

This is the first production contract for Modernized ATACMS missiles for the US Army.