The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for follow-on production of Paveway II Plus laser-guided bomb (LGB) kits.
The $40.3m contract represents the majority share of 2014 funding. Under the agreement, the company will manufacture and supply computer control groups and airfoil groups for GBU-10 and GBU-12 bombs.
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The deal also represents the eighth award under a previous five-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control precision guided systems manager Joe Serra said: "Lockheed Martin is focused on continuous improvement in our current and emerging line of precision guided systems so we can deliver exceptional capability at the best value to the warfighter.
"This contract extends US Air Force production at our Archbald, Pennsylvania, facility through first quarter 2016."
The paveway II Plus kit features a MAU-209C/B computer control group containing the electronic guidance system and an airfoil group. These provides lift and stability to the weapons in standard 2,000lb GBU-10 MK-84, 500lb GBU-12 MK-82 and 1,000lb GBU-16 MK-83 series configurations.
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By GlobalDataCompatible with the MK-80 series and BLU-109 warheads, Paveway II Plus LGB integrates an advanced guidance system to convert conventional gravity bombs into precision guided munitions and reduce risk to the US and allied ground forces.
As well as a qualified provider of all three Paveway II MK-80 series LGB variants, Lockheed is also the sole provider of the enhanced laser guided training round and dual mode LGBs.
Lockheed has so far manufactured more than 135,000 training rounds, 70,000 Paveway II LGB kits and 7,000 dual mode systems that are at its facility in Archbald, US and delivered them to US Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and international customers.
Deliveries under the contract are scheduled to commence in June 2015.
