Ross Wilkers
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are leading competing teams for a new contract to produce a new joint air-to-ground missile for the U.S. military, the Huntsville Times reports.
Kenneth Kesner reports Lockheed received a maximum $64.15 million Army contract to perform the extended technology development phase for the missile’s guidance section.
That 27-month phase will lead to the manufacturing development and low-rate initial production phases, Army spokesman Dan O’Boyle said in a statement obtained by the newspaper.
Technical discussions are ongoing with Raytheon for similar work, O’Boyle told Kesner.
Helicopters and unmanned aircraft systems will use the missile when it is deployed, replacing TOW and Hellfire missiles.
The new missile is a joint effort between the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, with the first set of missiles to be integrated on the Army’s Apache and Marines’ Super Cobra helicopters.
According to Kesner, potential future applications could include the Army’s Kiowa Warrior helicopter and Gray Eagle drone.
Lockheed has teamed with ARINC to pursue a U.S. Air Force program worth at least $400 million for a new air traffic control radar system.
