The State Department has approved a possible $1.3 billion deal to deliver High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Romania meant to boost that nation’s homeland defense efforts.
Lockheed Martin [LMT] would serve as the prime contractor for the deal which was notified to Congress on Aug. 17.
Photo: Lockheed Martin.
Under the deal, the Romanian government would acquire 54 HIMARS Launchers.
The lightweight mobile rocket launchers were first fielded in 2005, and are currently used by the Army and Marine Corps as well as Singapore, Jordan and United Arab Emirates’ armies. Along with Romania, future HIMARS operators may include Canada and Poland pending possible deals.
The proposed deal would also include 81 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, 54 Army Tactical Missile Systems and 24 Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems. Romania also requested 54 HIMARS resupply vehicles, various cargo support vehicles, 30 practice rockets, support equipment, and contractor logistical support.
Terms of the deal are now subject to a 15-day notification period.
“If that period passes without action by Congress then the next step in the process would be for the U.S. to send Romania a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA). The deal would be concluded if/when Romania returns the signed LOA, and after that decisions can be made concerning contracting, procurement, and delivery,” a State Dept. official told Defense Daily on Monday.
Lockheed will oversee production from its Grand Prairie, Texas, and Camden, Ark., facilities.