US$1 Bn. of contracts placed for bombs and missiles for Iraq / Afghanistan

More Bombs

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a US$116 million USAF contract for more than 4,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits.

These will be delivered as kits in 2009 and 2010. The Lot 12 production contract includes options for additional tail kits in successive Lots 13 -17, with deliveries will continue through to 2015 with a total contract value of US$590 Mn.

The Air Force and Navy have used JDAM weapons extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq. JDAM is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing 500-, 1,000- and 2,000-pound unguided free-fall bombs into accurately guided "smart" weapons. Boeing has produced more than 190,000 JDAM tail kits since 1998.

More Rockets and Rocket launchers

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $512 million contract to provide the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) to the U.S. Army and to the U.S. Marine Corps.

To quote at length from today's Press release ;

"The HIMARS system brings much more mobile and lethal dimension to Soldiers and Marines," said Lt. Col. John Chicoli, U.S. Army Precision Guided Munitions and Rockets Product Manager. "HIMARS’ exceptional mobility and transportability, together with the newest evolution of the MLRS family of munitions, bring long-range, precision fires, all-weather, near-vertical impact to theater – greatly reducing collateral damage."

HIMARS can accommodate the entire family of MLRS munitions, including all variants of the Guided MLRS rocket and Army Tactical Missile System (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. Its fire control system, electronics and communications units are interchangeable with the existing MLRS M270A1 launcher, and the crew and training are the same. HIMARS units are currently deployed by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

In January 2005, the U.S. Army issued an Urgent Need Statement for acceleration of GMLRS Unitary deliveries in support of counter fire operations. Lockheed Martin delivered the first 72 GMLRS Unitary rockets in June 2005 satisfying the requirements of the Urgent Need Statement. The first 900+ rockets were delivered to the U.S. in 2005 and 2006.

"In theater, the GMLRS Unitary rocket has earned the nickname ‘the 70-kilometer Sniper Rifle,’ and continues to live up to that reputation mission after mission," said Lt. Col. Mark Pincoski, U.S. Army Product Manager, Precision Guided Missiles and Rockets. "Guided Unitary has reshaped the way indirect fires are applied throughout the battlefield thanks to its 24-hour, all-weather availability and pinpoint accuracy."

It was reported to be first used in Iraq by Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment who fired eight guided rockets in Tal Afar Sept. 9 and 10,2005 killing 48 insurgents, said Maj. Jeremy McGuire, deputy of operations, Force Field Artillery, Multi-National Corps

Battery A, 3-13 FAR fired another six rockets Sept. 11, 2005 as a part of Operation Sayaid (Hunter),destroying the Mish’al Bridge and preventing its use for insurgent forces in the Al Anbar province in Western Iraq, McGuire added.

Quite what artillery, air defense concentrations, trucks, light armor and personnel carriers, they expect to have to take on in Iraq is a little difficult to gauge .. but hey the guys out there are pretty excited as this video shows.

Fox Battery - Himars Shot in Iraq - The Marine Coprs 1st HIMARS launch ever in a Combat Zone ! Biggest guns in the Marine Corps! HIMARS Highly Mobile Artillery Rocket System Fox battery's first Rocket launch in Iraq.Camp al Asad July 31st 2007 (Up loaded Aug 4th 2007)




It is best left to Rick to explain ..."The successes of these systems speak for themselves," said Rick Edwards, vice president of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "HIMARS and GMLRS, coupled with a world-class logistics footprint, are becoming ubiquitous to the urban and counter insurgency fight whenever surgical precision is needed."