Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has received a new contract from the US Department of Defense.

Lockheed Martin Wins $79.4m Contract

As part of the new deal worth $79.4 million, the US based defense contract giant Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) will develop a new variant of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) that incorporates a new warhead.

Scott Arnold, vice president of precision fires for Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)’s Missiles and Fire Control business said, “We are eager to move forward with the Alternative Warhead Program and provide soldiers and marines with a precision-engagement capability that meets their evolving requirements. GMLRS has been a trusted weapon of choice in current combat operations in Afghanistan, and continues to exceed operational-readiness requirements.”

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) stocks were at 91.13 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 9.7% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Hold
Mean recommendation: 2.78
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 2.86
Zack’s Rank: 3 out of 9 in the industry

Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) has reportedly checked the S-band radar’s technical maturity to detect space debris orbiting the Earth.

Raytheon Monitors Space For Debris

Space Fence, a subsidiary of the Waltham, Massachusetts, based American defense contractor and industrial corporation Raytheon (NYSE:RTN), has reportedly completed a comprehensive Preliminary Design Review of its S-band radar’s technical maturity to find out space debris orbiting the Earth.

David Gulla, Raytheon (NYSE:RTN)’s Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business vice president of Global Integrated Sensors, said, “We feel confident that Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) is offering the U.S. Air Force an affordable, low-risk solution by virtue of mature and advanced technologies we’re employing. We have applied radar expertise Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) has acquired during the past 70 years to build a Space Fence system that detects and tracks resident space objects much smaller than with the system used today.”

Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) shares were at 52.93 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 8.5% movement in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Hold
Mean recommendation: 2.25
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 2.28
Zack’s Rank: Error in the industry

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has appointed a new head for its commercial launch service business unit.

Lockheed Martin Appoints New Commercial Head

The defense contract company Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has announced the appointment of Robert Cleave as the new president of its Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS) unit effective May 1, 2012.

John Karas, vice president and general manager of Human Space Flight at Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Space Systems said, “Robert brings outstanding leadership with over 25 years of experience in the satellite industry and will provide an increased focus on strategy, growth and innovative solutions to meet the needs of satellite customers worldwide.”

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) stocks were at 90.37 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 11.0% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Hold
Mean recommendation: 2.78
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 2.81
Zack’s Rank: Error in the industry

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has planned a revival of commercial services.

Lockheed Martin To Aim For Commercial Return

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) announced that it is planning to revive its Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS).

Lockheed Martin is launching sales campaigns for its Atlas and Athena vehicles, and the company also appointed Robert Cleave, the space and satellite marketing veteran to head Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS).

John Karas, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)’s Space Systems vice president and general manager, “Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) thinks there is a need for launch in the medium range, and we think we can provide low-cost launch out of the Cape [Florida] and Kodiak [Alaska].with growing competition it is a tough market, but there is an opportunity there. The company has Atlas and Athena on the market, and available for sale, and we are going to fly a ride-share mission in 2013 from Kodiak. We’re looking forward to reentering the market”.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) shares were at 90.60 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 9.9% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Hold
Mean recommendation: 2.78
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 2.81
Zack’s Rank: 3 out of 9 in the industry

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) has reportedly supplied an order of MK19 Machine Guns to the U.S. Army.

General Dynamics Hands Over Army Machine Guns

West Falls Church based defense conglomerate and fifth largest defense contractor in the world, General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), has reportedly completed the supply of MK19 Machine Guns to the U.S. Army.

Vice President and General Manager of armament systems for General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) Armament and Technical Products, Steve Elgin, said, “Over the past quarter century, the MK19 has been the single most most-highly- fielded 40mm grenade machine gun in the world. The weapon’s popularity is the result of its high reliability and the vast logistical support as the U.S. Government’s standard issue grenade machine gun.”

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) shares were at 69.20 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a -2.4% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Moderate Buy
Mean recommendation: 1.61
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 1.52
Zack’s Rank: 8 out of 9 in the industry

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has received a new contract from the University of Arizona (U of A).

Lockheed Martin Signs Arizona University Deal

Under this new deal, the defense contract giant Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) will complete the assembly of Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) Instrument Modules.

NIRCam is the prime near-infrared imaging instrument for NASA’s James Webb SpaceTelescope (JWST).

Jeff Vanden Beukel, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) NIRCam program director said, “It is very satisfying to have completed assembly of this magnificent astrophysical instrument. We look forward, along with all of our other colleagues on the JWST team, to the day when our engineering and manufacturing help produce discoveries and greater understanding of the Universe.”

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) stocks are currently standing at 89.57.

Price History
Last Price: 89.57
52 Week Low / High: 66.36 / 91.61
50 Day Moving Average: 88.65
6 Month Price Change %: 17.5%
12 Month Price Change %: 14.9%

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) has agreed to become the sponsor of the upcoming CyberPatriot competition.

Northrop Grumman To Sponsor Cybersecurity Competition

The US based defense contract giant Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) will sponsor the fourth annual national high school cyber defense competition to inspire high school students toward careers in cybersecurity.

Diane Miller, program director for CyberPatriot and director of operations for the cybersecurity group at Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) said, “Cyber is our business, and we’re invested in building that pipeline because we need the workforce. We have positions open. A lot of positions open.”

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) stocks were at 61.04 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 3.4% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Hold
Mean recommendation: 2.75
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 2.79
Zack’s Rank: 8 out of 9 in the industry

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has received a US$259m deal for two more F-35s.

Lockheed Martin To Build More F-35s

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has announced that it has won a US$259m contract to add two more F-35 fighter jets to a fifth batch of jets being purchased by the US military.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) and the Pentagon are still negotiating the final terms of a fixed-price fifth production contract for the new radar-evading supersonic fighter jet.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is currently developing and building three variants of the new Joint Strike Fighter for the U.S. military and eight countries that are helping to fund its development.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) company shares are currently standing at 89.30.

Price History
Last Price: 89.30
52 Week Low / High: 66.36 / 91.61
50 Day Moving Average: 88.65
6 Month Price Change %: 17.5%
12 Month Price Change %: 14.9%