Lockheed Martin has received a $3bn contract from the US Army for the production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets as part of the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) procurement cycle.
The contract covers the continued manufacture and delivery of both standard and extended-range GMLRS rounds, aiming to support the Army’s long-range precision fires modernisation and its efforts to sustain munitions readiness.
Lockheed Martin plans to use the contract to further expand its manufacturing network.
This includes increasing its assembly and integration capacity, introducing additional automation in inspection and testing operations, and building out its supplier base for critical rocket components.
The company is also focusing on workforce expansion and developing technical skills, alongside upgrading tooling, production systems, and digital manufacturing capabilities.
The GMLRS is a precision-guided, all-weather rocket designed to improve accuracy and decrease the quantity of rockets required to neutralise targets.
Referred to as the “70-kilometre sniper rifle,” the system serves as the primary munition for the MLRS family of launchers, which comprises the HIMARS and M270 systems.
The extended-range variant, ER GMLRS, has a reach of up to 150km, extending coverage while maintaining expected accuracy and responsiveness.
A recent flight test of the ER GMLRS took place on 30 January at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where the US Army reported successful engagement of area targets at distances beyond 100km.
Lockheed Martin precision fires rockets vice president David Griser said: “Meeting the Army’s demand for precision fires requires speed and disciplined execution across the industrial base.
“This award allows us to continue increased production while preserving the quality and reliability expected of the GMLRS system.”
The latest award is intended to help scale industrial capacity, meeting the Army’s requirements for training, readiness, and replenishing its stockpiles.
Lockheed Martin stated that these investments aim to improve throughput and reduce production lead times, supporting high-rate output of the GMLRS product line.
“As demand for precision fires continues, our priority is to deliver capability at the pace required by the warfighter,” Griser added.
