The Lockheed Martin/ Boeing joint venture Hellfire Systems LLC in Orlando, FL received a $356.7 million firm-fixed price contract for “Hellfire II High-Energy Anti-Tank missiles.” Work will be performed in Orlando, FL and is expected to be complete by Oct 31/11. One bid was solicited on Oct 22/07 by the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-08-C-0361).
The DefenseLINK release is almost certainly referring to the AGM-114K Hellfire II missile, whose shaped-charge warhead can destroy armored vehicles or punch into buildings. The recently-introduced AGM-114K-A variant adds blast fragmentation to the HEAT warhead’s anti-tank capability, giving it added versatility against unarmored targets in the open. Hellfire missiles are the USA’s preferred aerial anti-armor missile, equipping its helicopter fleets (AH-64, AH-1, OH-58D, MH-60S/R), AH-64 ad S-70 helicopters flown by its allies, and even Australia and France’s Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters. While they lack the fast-jet launch capabilities of the UK’s MBDA Brimstone missiles, Hellfires have carved out a unique niche of their own as the guided missile integrated into America’s armed UAVs like the Predator.
The Hellfire missile also made the news recently in a different capacity. Lockheed Martin discovered that efforts to sell 460 more Hellfire missiles to the UAE in 2003-2004 had crossed the line, by failing to get proper ITAR approvals beforehand for certain discussions, and by divulging classified missile-related information to a UAE Air Force officer in response to questions. The UAE was already a Hellfire customer at that time, but that does not remove the procedural requirements. Lockheed Martin discovered the mistake and informed the US Department of State, which manages ITAR. The final settlement involves a $4 million fine, with $1 million of that suspended if Lockheed Martin meets certain criteria for improved internal compliance measures.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/356 ... les-05043/
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