{"id":55630,"date":"2018-06-25T19:09:54","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T19:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/25\/armys-long-range-surface-to-surface-missile-getting-new-life-under-recent-contract-award\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:06:20","slug":"armys-long-range-surface-to-surface-missile-getting-new-life-under-recent-contract-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2018\/06\/25\/armys-long-range-surface-to-surface-missile-getting-new-life-under-recent-contract-award\/","title":{"rendered":"US Army\u2019s long-range, surface-to-surface missile getting new life with $358M contract"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $358 million production contract for the Army Tactical Missile System<\/a>, which allows for a service life-extension program for old missiles, the company announced Monday. The firm will also produce new missiles for a Foreign Military Sales customer, Lockheed added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ATACMS is the Army\u2019s only surface-to-surface, long-range, 300-kilometer missile system. According to a Lockheed spokesperson, the missile system performs well in operations and is highly reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the Army is burning through a variety of its precision missiles in operations<\/a> that have been heating up in various theaters, and the service is taking steps to ensure its inventory is refreshed and robust going forward<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service life-extension program, or SLEP, will allow customers to be able to upgrade existing Block 1 and Block 1A missiles with new technology and double the range, a Lockheed statement notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When an old ATACMS comes through the SLEP line, it\u2019s \u201cessentially a brand-new missile, and it\u2019s reset to [a] 10-year shelf life,\u201d a Lockheed spokesperson told Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\t