Lockheed awarded rocket contract

has received a $166m contract to provide 44 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to the

and 16 to the

. Deliveries are scheduled for February 2009.

HIMARS can accommodate all types of Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) munitions, including all variants of the Guided MLRS rocket and ATACMS missiles.

HIMARS is designed to enable troops to engage and defeat artillery, air defence concentrations, trucks, light armour and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations. It can move away from the area at high speed following missile launch, before enemy forces are able to locate the launch site.

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 prototypes were used in Operation Iraqi Freedom.