Article Posted on : - Feb 06, 2009

HELLFIRE II. Lockhheed Martin photo

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US army has ordered an additional 298 M 299 Launchers and related equipment worth $31.3 million from Lockheed Martin.

Ken Musculus, programme director for Air-to-Ground Missile Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control said that the M299's versatility supports multiple missions in a single sortie by any of several platforms. “Both the M299 and its modernised lightweight successor will accommodate the new Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). This will ensure seamless integration of JAGM into the tri-services arsenal,” Ken Musculus said.

Lockheed Martin was awarded a $30 million contract in 2008 to lead the US Army's modernisation of the M299 launcher family. M299, the next-generation lightweight launcher will carry HELLFIRE II and JAGM on attack and reconnaissance helicopters, with a growth path for the DAGR(TM) system and other manned and unmanned platforms. The modernised M299 launcher production is scheduled to begin in 2011.

In a statement released to the media, the company said that the M299 is used aboard a variety of platforms to launch all variants of the HELLFIRE missile. “Under the modification to the $51.3 million Launcher Bridge 3 contract awarded in 2007, Lockheed Martin will supply an additional 298 M299 helicopter-mounted four-rail missile launchers, 134 launcher electronic assemblies (LEAs) and multiple spares. The original contract called for delivery of 430 launchers and 376 LEAs to the US and international forces, and it also included multiple spares, engineering services and depot support, the statement said.

According to the company, deliveries under the original Bridge 3 contract are currently underway. “Lockheed Martin is increasing the rate of production to accommodate the additional launchers, LEAs and spares. With the additional orders, deliveries are scheduled to be completed in 2011,” the company stated.