DALLAS, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has received a$90 million contract to support U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps MLRSlaunchers. Lockheed Martin's Life Cycle Contractor Support (LCCS) system willsupport more than 300 launchers through 2010.
This contract entrusts Lockheed Martin with the full supportresponsibilities for the performance-based specification components of theHIMARS and MLRS M270A1 launchers' fire control systems, as well as the HIMARSlauncher-loader module. Responsibilities also include supply, maintenance andrelated logistics support, including field service representatives who workalongside the Warfighter to provide quick turnaround times.
'We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Army and Marine Corpto ensure our products perform for the Warfighter in those defining moments onthe battlefield,' said Mike Syring, director of After Market Enterprises atLockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. 'Our integrated approach tologistics support literally puts Lockheed Martin alongside the Warfighter inthe field. It's a partnership in efficiency where work is done quickly, withthe necessary expertise to make sure the job's done right.'
LCCS brings contractor support to the system, no matter where the systemmay be. The global team of field service representatives feed a centraloperations center with complete records of each unit's launcher operationalstatus, configurations and component upgrades, all of which are instantlyavailable in a networked database. This database also contains records thatdescribe the configuration and maintenance history of every major componentand sub-assembly. Repair facilities and special test equipment are co-locatedwith the operational units to help reduce field turnaround times for repair ofmajor components.
The HIMARS/MLRS M270A1 performance-based program has yielded impressiveresults over the three years that it has been in place. Through LCCS, thecustomer has experienced a system status readiness rate that consistentlyaverages above 99 percent, and a HIMARS/MLRS M270A1 mission-capable turnaroundtime that has averaged less than 12 hours for those systems based within theU.S. Additionally, repair turnaround times in the field have averaged lessthan two days.
Lockheed Martin has also partnered with the U.S. Army's Letterkenny ArmyDepot (LEAD) to perform selected repairs of HIMARS and MLRS M270A1 hardware.This depot maintenance partnership between Lockheed Martin and LEAD willresult in LEAD performing HIMARS/MLRS M270A1 repairs under the Lockheed MartinLCCS contract beginning in late 2008.
The Department of Defense recognized the outstanding performance of theHIMARS/MLRS M270A1 LCCS program and selected the U.S. Army and LockheedMartin's HIMARS team for the 2006 Secretary of Defense System LevelPerformance Based Logistics (PBL) Award, which recognizes exceptionaloperational capability. PBL is the hallmark of the U.S. military's call forintegrated, affordable performance packages designed to optimize systemreadiness at lower cost than traditional maintenance programs. The U.S. Armynominated HIMARS for the system award because its PBL solution maintainsperformance across the entire weapon system, rather than just components. Itis at the system level that the customers recognize the highest potential forrealizing savings and performance efficiency.
Because of its C-130 transportability, HIMARS can be deployed into areaspreviously inaccessible to heavier launchers and provides a force multiplierto the modular brigade. It also incorporates the self-loading, autonomousfeatures that have made Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) the premierrocket artillery system in the world. HIMARS carries a single six-pack ofMLRS rockets, or one ATACMS missile. Its fire control system, electronics andcommunications units are interchangeable with the existing MLRS M270A1launcher, and the crew and training are the same. HIMARS prototypes weresuccessfully employed in Operations Iraqi Freedom.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technologysystems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9billion.
For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com
SOURCE Lockheed Martin
