The U.S. Army recently established a new distance record for the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rocket, destroying a target 85 kilometers from the launch site during a flawless system demonstration at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The previous maximum range for GMLRS was 70 kilometers.

The U.S. Army's decision to test the Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided GMLRS rocket to 85 kilometers was based on the system's demonstrated accuracy and minimal collateral damage during more than 750 successful engagements in the theater of operations.

"Additional range for GMLRS represents greater safety for Soldiers," said Scott Arnold, vice president for Precision Fires and Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

"Greater standoff distances allow Warfighters to operate further away from hostile areas, travel shorter distances to launch their weapons, and ensures rapid fire support."

This flight test was the fourth in the GMLRS Unitary Production Verification Test program. The GMLRS rocket was fired from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher.

"The success of this system speaks for the quality work that our team is doing every day," said Col. David Rice, U.S. Army project manager for Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems. "We are a constant in this fight; always mission ready and on target. In this fight, precision is the name of the game, and that is why our Soldiers love this system."

The GMLRS and HIMARS government/industry teams were the recipients of the William J. Perry Award for Precision Strike in 2007. The Perry Award recognizes public or private sector achievements that result in significant contributions to the development, introduction or support of precision strike systems.

The GMLRS/HIMARS team was recognized for outstanding contributions by providing revolutionary surface-to-surface precision engagement capability to joint and coalition combat commanders.

GMLRS is an all-weather, precision strike, artillery rocket system that achieves greater range and precision accuracy requiring fewer rockets to defeat targets and limiting collateral damage. GMLRS is a Future Force system that provides the joint Warfighter with immediate, precision fires to engage, destroy and deny terrain to the enemy.

GMLRS is also effective against counter-fire, air defense, light materiel and personnel targets. The system incorporates a GPS-aided inertial guidance package integrated on a product improved rocket body. Additionally, small canards on the guided rocket nose add maneuverability to further enhance the accuracy of the system.

HIMARS can accommodate the entire family of MLRS munitions, including all variants of the GMLRS rocket and 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. HIMARS is currently employed in support of the Global War on Terror.