Lockheed Martin has been selected as one of two contractors to develop a follow-on weapon system to the Shoulder-Launched Multi-purpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) for the US Marine Corps.
The contract is for the system integration phase (SIP) of the follow-on to SMAW (FOTS) program. It calls for Lockheed Martin and team member Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) to develop a new shoulder-launched multi-purpose assault weapon that can be fired from enclosures or other battlefield close quarters to neutralize bunkers, urban structures and light armor.
Additionally, FOTS will create access corridors in urban structures such as triple brick and reinforced concrete.
The SIP contract is expected to run 15 months and includes delivery of approximately 45 munitions in month 12 to support test firings that will result in the selection of one contractor to complete the system design and development (SDD) phase, followed by production. "Our FOTS solution will provide the Marines with a capability for firing in close quarters, a critical requirement in urban conflict scenarios," said Peter Spivy, international and domestic business development manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "There are also many international customers who have a requirement for this type of assault weapon." Lockheed Martin has more than 40 years of experience in precision weapon systems including the only man-portable, shoulder-fired weapons qualified for fire from enclosure in the US arsenal. Javelin, developed jointly by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, is currently fielded and Lockheed Martin Predator is in production. IMI was the original developer of the B-300 man-portable, anti-tank weapon system for the Israel Defense Forces, which led to its selection as a basis for the US Marine Corps' SMAW weapon system.